Catholic Mass Readings for May 21 2023, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Catholic Daily Mass Readings for May 21 2023, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
First Reading – Acts 1:1-11
1 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak;
5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps. 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
2 All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
3 For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
6 God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
7 Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
8 For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
9 God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Second Reading – Ephesians 1:17-23
Brothers and sisters:
17 May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.
18 May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones,
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might:
20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
OR Ephesians 4:1-13
1 Brothers and sisters, I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
3 striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8 Therefore, it says: He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men.
9 What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower regions of the earth?
10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature to manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.
OR Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
1 Brothers and sisters, I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
3 striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace:
4 one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
11 And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature to manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.
Or Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
24 Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
25 Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own;
26 if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice.
27 Just as it is appointed that men and women die once, and after this the judgment,
28 so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary
20 by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh,
21 and since we have Aa great priest over the house of God, “
22 let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
23 Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.
Alleluia – Matthew 28:19A, 20B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
19A Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
20B I am with you always, until the end of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
CATHOLIC SUNDAY AND DAILY MASS READINGS FOR 2023 - eBook & Hard Copy DOWNLOAD NOW!
Gospel Reading for May 21 2023 – Matthew 28:16-20 – Year A
16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-20 – Year B
15 Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages.
18 They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.
20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
Luke 24:46-53 – Year C
46 Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them.
51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.
52 They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and they were continually in the temple praising God.
Tomorrow’s Catholic Mass Readings for May 22 2023, Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
TO ALL OUR READERS
Please don’t scroll past this. If you donate just $10, or whatever you can, Online Catholic Lectionary could keep thriving for years. Take a minute to donate. Show the world that access to Online Catholic Lectionary matters to you and saves you from frequent buying of printed bulletin. Thank you.