Date: May 9, 2013
First Reading (Acts 1: 1-11)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
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 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 which 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 stated 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 stated, "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."
Second Reading (Hebrews 9: 24-28 and 10: 19-23)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
Brothers and sisters: Christ did not enter some sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself. He is now in the presence of God on our behalf. He had not to offer himself many times, as the High Priest does: he who may return every year, because the blood is not his own. Otherwise he would have suffered many times from the creation of the world. But no; he manifested himself only now at the end of the ages, to take away sin by sacrifice, and, as humans die only once and afterwards are judged, in the same way Christ sacrificed himself once to take away the sins of the multitude. There will be no further question of sin when he comes again to save those waiting for him. So, my friends, we are assured of entering the Sanctuary by the blood of Jesus who opened for us this new and living way passing through the curtain, that is, his body. Because we have a high priest in charge of the House of God, let us approach with a sincere heart, with full faith, interiorly cleansed from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to our hope with wavering, because he who promised is faithful.
Gospel (Luke 24: 46-53)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Jesus states, "You can see what was written: the Messiah had to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Now you shall be witnesses to this. And this is why I will send you what my Father promised. So remain in the city until you are invested with power from above." Jesus led them almost as far as Bethany; then he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And as he blessed them, he withdrew (and was taken to heaven. They worshiped him). They returned to Jerusalem, full of joy and were continually in the Temple praising God.
First Reading (Acts 1: 1-11)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
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 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 which 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 stated 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 stated, "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."
Second Reading (Hebrews 9: 24-28 and 10: 19-23)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews.
Brothers and sisters: Christ did not enter some sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself. He is now in the presence of God on our behalf. He had not to offer himself many times, as the High Priest does: he who may return every year, because the blood is not his own. Otherwise he would have suffered many times from the creation of the world. But no; he manifested himself only now at the end of the ages, to take away sin by sacrifice, and, as humans die only once and afterwards are judged, in the same way Christ sacrificed himself once to take away the sins of the multitude. There will be no further question of sin when he comes again to save those waiting for him. So, my friends, we are assured of entering the Sanctuary by the blood of Jesus who opened for us this new and living way passing through the curtain, that is, his body. Because we have a high priest in charge of the House of God, let us approach with a sincere heart, with full faith, interiorly cleansed from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to our hope with wavering, because he who promised is faithful.
Gospel (Luke 24: 46-53)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Jesus states, "You can see what was written: the Messiah had to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Now you shall be witnesses to this. And this is why I will send you what my Father promised. So remain in the city until you are invested with power from above." Jesus led them almost as far as Bethany; then he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And as he blessed them, he withdrew (and was taken to heaven. They worshiped him). They returned to Jerusalem, full of joy and were continually in the Temple praising God.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 47) (Verses 2-3 and 6-9)
ReplyDeleteThe response is: God mounts His throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
Clap your hands, all you peoples; acclaim God with shouts of joy. For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared; he is a great king all over the earth.
God ascends amid joyful shouts, the Lord amid trumpet blasts. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
God is king of all the earth; sing to him a hymn of praise. For God now rules over the nations, God reigns from his holy throne.
The Ascension of the Lord occurs after the 6th Sunday of Easter, but before the 7th Sunday of Easter.
ReplyDeleteLa Ascensión del Señor siempre ocurre después el sexto domingo de la Pascua y antes el séptimo domingo de la Pascua.
DeletePrimera Lectura (Hechos de los Apóstoles 1: 1-11)
ReplyDeleteUna lectura de los Hechos de los Apóstoles.
En mi primer Libro, querido Teófilo, me referí a todo lo que hizo y enseñó Jesús, desde el comienzo, hasta el día en que subió al cielo, después de haber dado, por medio del Espíritu Santo, sus últimas instrucciones a los Apóstoles que había elegido. Después de su Pasión, Jesús se manifestó a ellos dándoles numerosas pruebas de que vivía, y durante cuarenta días se le apareció y les habló del Reino de Dios. En una ocasión, mientras estaba comiendo con ellos, les recomendó que no se alejaran de Jerusalén y esperaran la promesa del Padre: “La promesa, les dijo, que yo les he anunciado. Porque Juan bautizó con agua, pero ustedes serán bautizados en el Espíritu Santo, dentro de pocos días.” Los que estaban reunidos le preguntaron: “Señor, ¿es ahora cuando vas a restaurar el reino de Israel?” Él les respondió: “No les corresponde a ustedes conocer el tiempo y el momento que el Padre ha establecido con su propia autoridad. Pero recibirán la fuerza del Espíritu Santo que descenderá sobre ustedes, y serán mis testigos en Jerusalén, en toda Judea y Samaria, y hasta los confines de la tierra.” Dicho esto, los Apóstoles lo vieron elevarse, y una nube lo ocultó de la vista de ellos. Como permanecían con la mirada puesta en el cielo mientras Jesús subía, se les aparecieron dos hombres vestidos de blanco, que les dijeron: “Hombres de Galilea, ¿por qué siguen mirando al cielo? Este Jesús que les ha sido quitado y fue elevado al cielo, vendrá de la misma manera que lo han visto partir.”
Segunda Lectura (hebreos 9: 24-28 y 10: 19-23)
Una lectura de la carta de San Pablo a los hebreos.
Pues ahora no se trata de un santuario hecho por hombres, figura del santuario auténtico, sino que Cristo entró en el propio cielo, donde está ahora ante Dios en favor nuestro. Él no tuvo que sacrificarse repetidas veces, a diferencia del sumo sacerdote que vuelve todos los años con una sangre que no es la suya; de otro modo hubiera tenido que padecer muchísimas veces desde la creación del mundo. De hecho se manifestó una sola vez, al fin de los tiempos, para abolir el pecado con su sacrificio. Así como los hombres mueren una sola vez, y después viene para ellos el juicio; de la misma manera Cristo se sacrificó una sola vez para quitar los pecados de una multitud. La segunda vez se manifestará a todos aquellos que lo esperan como a su salvador, pero ya no será por causa del pecado.
Evangelio (Lucas 24: 46-53)
Una lectura del Evangelio Santo según San Lucas.
Jesús les dijo a sus discípulos: “Todo esto estaba escrito: los padecimientos del Mesías y su resurrección de entre los muertos al tercer día. Luego debe proclamarse en su nombre el arrepentimiento y el perdón de los pecados, comenzando por Jerusalén, y yendo después a todas las naciones, invitándolas a que se conviertan. Ustedes son testigos de todo esto. Ahora yo voy a enviar sobre ustedes lo que mi Padre prometió. Permanezcan, pues, en la ciudad hasta que sean revestidos de la fuerza que viene de arriba.” Jesús los llevó hasta cerca de Betania y, levantando las manos, los bendijo. Y mientras los bendecía, se separó de ellos y fue llevado al cielo. Ellos se postraron ante él. Después volvieron llenos de gozo a Jerusalén, y continuamente estaban en el Templo alabando a Dios.