NKCC

The Ascension of the Lord

Reading I - Acts 1:1-11 | Psalm – Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Reading II – Ephesians 1:17-23 or Ephesians 4:1-13 or Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

Gospel – Mark 16:15-20

Listen to this week's readings courtesy of the USCCB.

The most recent revision of the Lectionary altered the order of readings for the Ascension of the Lord, changing the Gospels from a one-year to a three-year cycle. The first reading, psalm and the first option for the second reading are constant across the years. Additional options for the second reading are given in year B (two additional options from Ephesians) and C (and additional option from Hebrews).

The Gospel accounts all deal with the Ascension of Jesus into heaven and the mission of the apostles to bring Christ to the whole world. The account in Luke includes the period of waiting that the apostles are to do before the descent of the Holy Spirit. The first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles describes this same event.

The Psalm today matches the Gospel and first reading well, as it is a 'psalm of ascent' one of the royal psalms which celebrate the king taking his throne. Christ in his ascent is seen as taking his place in the heavenly hierarchy. All of these readings, then place the ascension as a foundational event in the history of salvation, for Christ, having destroyed the gates of death now leads all who follow him to the heavenly realm. That is the point of the second reading: all who hear the call of Christ and respond with love will share in the inheritance that is his from the Father.

By Glenn CJ Byer, MA SLD, © 2004, OCP. All rights reserved.