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 O
clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of
Joy,
3
For the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth.
6
God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.
7
Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing ye.
8
For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely.
9
God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on his holy throne.
SECOND
READING: Ephesians 1:17-23 Or
Ephesians 4:1-13 Or Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
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
1 I
therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy
of the vocation in which you are called,
2
With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another
in charity.
3
Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4
One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your
calling.
5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
us all.
7
But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of
the giving of Christ.
8
Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led captivity captive; he
gave gifts to men.
9
Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first
into the lower parts of the earth?
10
He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the
heavens, that he might fill all things.
11
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some
evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,
12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ:
13
Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of
the fullness of Christ.
Or
1 I
therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy
of the vocation in which you are called,
2
With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another
in charity.
3
Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4
One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your
calling.
5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in
us all.
7
But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of
the giving of Christ.
11
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some
evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,
12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ:
13
Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of
the fullness of Christ.
GOSPEL:
Mark 16:15-20
15 And he said to them:
Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth
and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be
condemned.
17 And these signs
shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out
devils: they shall speak with new tongues.
18 They shall take up
serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt
them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall
recover.
19 And the Lord Jesus,
after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of God.
20 But they going forth
preached everywhere: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word
with signs that followed.
