Note:
In some dioceses, The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord will be
celebrated on this day, and in others there will be the regular
readings for the 6th Thursday of Easter. We have included both here,
and begin with the readings for the Ascension of the Lord.
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| "The Ascension" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Acts 1:
1 - 11
1
The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus
began to do and to teach,
2
Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the
apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.
3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many
proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom
of God.
4
And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should
not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the
Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.
5
For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.
6
They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt
thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7
But he said to them: It is not for you to know the times or moments,
which the Father hath put in his own power:
8
But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you,
and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea,
and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
9
And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was
raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10
And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men
stood by them in white garments.
11
Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven?
This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as
you have seen him going into heaven.
PSALM:
Psalms 47:
2 - 3, 6 - 9
2
For the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth.
3
He hath subdued the people under us; and the nations under our feet.
6
Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing ye.
7
For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely.
8
God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on his holy throne.
9
The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of
Abraham: for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted.
SECOND
READING: Ephesians
1: 17 - 23 Or
Hebrews 9:
24 - 28; 10: 19 - 23
17
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give
unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of
him:
18
The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope
is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
19
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us, who
believe according to the operation of the might of his power,
20
Which he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead, and setting
him on his right hand in the heavenly places.
21
Above all principality, and power, and virtue, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that
which is to come.
22
And he hath subjected all things under his feet, and hath made him
head over all the church,
23
Which is his body, and the fulness of him who is filled all in all.
Or
24
For Jesus is not entered into the holies made with hands, the
patterns of the true: but into heaven itself, that he may appear now
in the presence of God for us.
25
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the holies, every year with the blood of others:
26
For then he ought to have suffered often from the beginning of the
world: but now once at the end of ages, he hath appeared for the
destruction of sin, by the sacrifice of himself.
27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the
judgment:
28
So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; the
second time he shall appear without sin to them that expect him unto
salvation.
19
Having therefore, brethren, a confidence in the entering into the
holies by the blood of Christ;
20
A new and living way which he hath dedicated for us through the veil,
that is to say, his flesh,
21
And a high priest over the house of God:
22
Let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with
clean water.
23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for he
is faithful that hath promised).
GOSPEL:
Luke 24:
46 - 53
46
And he said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ
to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, the third day:
47
And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his
name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48
And you are witnesses of these things.
49
And I send the promise of my Father upon you: but stay you in the
city till you be endued with power from on high.
50
And he led them out as far as Bethania: and lifting up his hands, he
blessed them.
51
And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them,
and was carried up to heaven.
52
And they adoring went back into Jerusalem with great joy.
53
And they were always in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
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Thursday
of the Sixth Week of Easter
FIRST
READING: Acts 18:
1 - 8
1
After these things, departing from Athens, he came to Corinth.
2
And finding a certain Jew, named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come
from Italy, with Priscilla his wife, (because that Claudius had
commanded all Jews to depart from Rome,) he came to them.
3
And because he was of the same trade, he remained with them, and
wrought; (now they were tentmakers by trade.)
4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, bringing in the name
of the Lord Jesus; and he persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5
And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was earnest
in preaching, testifying to the Jews, that Jesus is the Christ.
6
But they gainsaying and blaspheming, he shook his garments, and said
to them: Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from
henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7
And departing thence, he entered into the house of a certain man,
named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house was
adjoining to the synagogue.
8
And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, with
all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and
were baptized.
PSALM:
Psalms 98:
1 - 4
1
Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: because he hath done wonderful
things. His right hand hath wrought for him salvation, and his arm is
holy.
2
The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice
in the sight of the Gentiles.
3
He hath remembered his mercy his truth toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing.
GOSPEL:
John 16:
16 - 20
16
A little while, and now you shall not see me; and again a little
while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father.
17
Then some of the disciples said one to another: What is this that he
saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a
little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father?
18
They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? we
know not what he speaketh.
19
And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask him; and he said to them:
Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little
while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you
shall see me?
20
Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the
world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow
shall be turned into joy.
