Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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 he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, 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.”
The Psalm
Psalm 47
Omnes gentes, plaudite
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; *
shout to God with a cry of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared; *
he is the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdues the peoples under us, *
and the nations under our feet.
4 He chooses our inheritance for us, *
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
5 God has gone up with a shout, *
the Lord with the sound of the ram’s-horn.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; *
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is King of all the earth; *
sing praises with all your skill.
8 God reigns over the nations; *
God sits upon his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the peoples have gathered together *
with the people of the God of Abraham.
10 The rulers of the earth belong to God, *
and he is highly exalted.
Ephesians 1:15-23
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The Gospel
Luke 24:44-53
Jesus said to his disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you– that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
HYMNS
HAIL, THOU ONCE DESPISED JESUS
Hail, thou once despised Jesus! Hail, thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us; thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, thou universal Savior, bearer of our sin and shame!
By thy merit we find favor; life is given through thy Name.
Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, all our sins on thee were laid;
By almighty love anointed, thou hast full atonement made.
All thy people are forgiven through the virtue of thy blood;
Opened is the gate of heaven, reconciled are we with God.
Jesus, hail! Enthroned in glory, there forever to abide;
All the heavenly hosts adore thee, seated at thy Father’s side.
There for sinners thou art pleading; there thou dost our place prepare;
Ever for us interceding, till in glory we appear.
Worship, honor, power, and blessing thou art worthy to receive;
Highest praises, without ceasing, right it is for us to give.
Help, ye bright angelic spirits, all your noblest anthems raise;
Help to sing our Savior’s merits, help to chant Emmanuel’s praise!
ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS!
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! His the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph, his the victory alone;
Hark the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood;
Jesus out of every nation hath redeemed us by his blood.
Alleluia! Not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received him, when the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget his promise, “I am with you ever-more”?
YE WATCHERS AND YE HOLY ONES
Ye watchers and ye holy ones, bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,
Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out dominions, princedoms, powers, virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim,
Lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of the eternal Word, most gracious, magnify the Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Respond ye souls in endless rest, ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong, all saints triumphant raise the song,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
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