Ascension of the Lord Solemnity (Seventh Sunday of Easter)
Also Read: Mass Readings for 12 May 2024
First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When Jesus had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (8-11)
The first apostles along with hundreds of people witnessed Christ Jesus Our Lord, ascend into heaven. His words were fulfilled on Pentecost when the apostles received the Holy Spirit. Our faith stands on eyewitness accounts of the foundational mysteries. We await in joyful anticipation of his coming in the same way as they (disciples) saw him go into heaven! We must remind ourselves that we are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song. We are His witnesses today, through our baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 47: 2-3, 6-9
God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm. (5-9)
Alleluia!
Second Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-13
He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things. (10)
By his Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension, Christ Jesus restored to us heaven. When he ascended, graces were released upon his people through the Holy Spirit. When we were baptized we received special graces, which we must activate during our lives. We must not only recognize this great mystery but also try to live and operate through it.
This reading also emphasizes the unity in Christianity. We must always be conscious of the fact that Christ is our cornerstone and work towards unity among all Christians.
Amen!
Alleluia: Matthew 28: 19a, 20b
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 16: 15-20
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (17-18)
“…while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.” (20)
Our Lord God has given us the power, love, and self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7) through his Holy Spirit; so that we can carry out our mission. We must not hesitate to exercise this power. We have been commanded to proclaim to “all creation”; let us begin with ourselves first. As we begin to see the signs and wonders in our self first we will mature in faith. We can cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. The promises made by Christ to his apostles, before he ascended into heaven hold true for us too! We must actively believe and profess our faith through our daily living, in Jesus’ name.
Amen, Alleluia!
