Readings of the day

Mass readings

1. First reading Acts 1:1-11

   ¹The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, ²until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom. ⁴Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. ⁵For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ⁶Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” ⁹When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, ¹¹who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Acts 1:1-11

2. Responsorial Psalm Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

   ¹For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Oh clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with the voice of triumph! ²For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth. ⁵God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. ⁶Sing praises to God! Sing praises! Sing praises to our King! Sing praises! ⁷For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding. ⁸God reigns over the nations. God sits on his holy throne.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

3. Second reading Ephesians 1:17-23

   ¹⁷that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might ²⁰which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. ²²He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

   Or: Ephesians 4:1-13

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Ephesians 1:17-23

4. Gospel acclamation Matthew 28:19a, 20b

5. Gospel Mark 16:15-20

   ¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to the whole creation. ¹⁶He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned. ¹⁷These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; ¹⁸they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” ¹⁹So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

   WEB-C · World English Bible (Catholic). Public Domain. Source: eBible.org. Read in context: Mark 16:15-20