＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Acts 1:1-11

In the first part of my work, Theo­philus,

I wrote of all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he ascended to heaven. But first he had instructed through the Holy Spirit the apostles he had chosen. After his passion, he presented himself to them, giving many signs that he was alive; over a period of forty days he appeared to them and taught them concerning the kingdom of God. 

Once when he had been eating with them, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the fulfillment of the Father’s promise about which I have spoken to you: John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit within a few days.”

When they had come together, they asked him, “Is it now that you will restore the Kingdom of Israel?” And he answered, “It is not for you to know the time and the steps that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth.”

 After Jesus said this, he was taken up before their eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. While they were still looking up to heaven where he went, suddenly, two men dressed in white stood beside them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have seen him go there.”

 

Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9(6)

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 1:17-23

May the God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of Glory, reveal himself to you and give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know him.

May he enlighten your inner vision, that you may appreciate the things we hope for, since we were called by God.

May you know how great is the inheritance, the glory, God sets apart for his saints; may you understand with what extraordinary power he acts in favor of us who believe.

He revealed his almighty power in Christ when he raised him from the dead and had him sit at his right hand in heaven,   far above all rule, power, authority, dominion, or any other supernatural force that could be named, not only in this world but in the world to come as well.

 Thus has God put all things under the feet of Christ and set him above all things, as head of the Church which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 

 ＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 28:16-20

As for the Eleven disciples, they went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Jesus, they bowed before him, although some doubted.

Then Jesus approached them and said, “I have been gi­ven all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded you. I am with you always until the end of this world.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

Jesus returns to the Father, leaves his disciples to continue the work he began, but now promises to send them the Holy Spirit to guide them in their mission. In the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus is asked whether he was now going to restore the kingdom of Israel to which he replies that it was not for them to know the time which the Father had determined. But they had only to patiently wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Reflect:

Jesus leaves but does not abandon his disciples as orphans. Instead he sends them the Holy Spirit to guide them to fullness of truth and to strengthen them in their continuing mission of bringing the Good News of salvation to all peoples. And he gives them the same authority that the Father had given him, in order to carry his message to the ends of the earth, promising to be present to them always. As followers of Christ and ambassadors of his message, we are never alone. We never do the work of preaching the Gospel by ourselves. The Church is there to sustain and guide us. The Holy Spirit is there to strengthen us. And Jesus will always be there, present in our midst, in his Word and in the Breaking of the Bread.

Pray:

Lord Jesus, you have made it abundantly clear that we have everything we need in order to fulfill the task you have given us. Help me to always be mindful of the many gifts, graces and aids that you have made available to me as I seek to proclaim your message to all that I meet.

Act:

Say a prayer of thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit and ask for his guidance and aid as you seek to witness to your faith in your day today life.