Family Home Liturgy:  Ascension (24 May)

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Mother/other person lights candle

Ldr:   Christ, our Lord, is risen, alleluia!

All:     He is truly risen, alleluia!

Ldr:   We pray in the name of

the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All:     Amen!

Ldr:   As we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus,

let us pray for the Holy Spirit to help us

to lift up our hearts and minds to the presence of God that is with us now.

(pause)

God of all creation,

whose mighty power raised Jesus from the dead,

be present to us gathered here

and the community of disciples throughout the world

whom you have called to the hope

of a glorious inheritance among the saints. 

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

First reader:

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles     (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 word of the Lord.               (“Thanks be to God”)

          *[The-ó-fi-lus = the person to whom the author (Luke) is writing, means “friend of God”]

Second reader:

A reading from the Gospel of Matthew     (Matthew 28:16–20)

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee,

to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

When they saw Jesus, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

And Jesus came and said to them,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

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, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Gospel of the Lord.            (“Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ”)

[reflection:   -In celebrating the Ascension what is important is not how Jesus left

   the Eleven, but the mission he gave them: Go make disciples of all nations.

   How do you share in this apostolic work of sharing your faith?

-During this corona time many of us have felt alone or hopeless, yet Jesus

    promises to be with us always; how or through whom has Jesus spoken

    words of hope and encouragement to you?

-As we await the coming feast of Pentecost, how do you want the Holy Spirit

   to come into your life?  ]

prayer leader:

Our response to our prayers will be, “Lord, hear us.”

• For the community of Christ’s disciples throughout the world: fill us with hope and confidence as we share our faith                                            through our words and our actions… we pray:

• For all who are discouraged or feel hopeless: may they find strength and courage in the words of Jesus,                                                who promises to be with us always… we pray:

• Send your Spirit to all those who are in pastoral ministry (especially __ ): may they faithfully share comfort and hope with their people… we pray: 

• We ask for your blessings upon all who are in special need of your grace: for government and community leaders,

for the sick and those who care for them,                                                                      

for those separated from their loved ones due to the corona crisis,                                 

and those who mourn the loss of a loved one  (and for __ )… we pray:

• May those who have died experience God’s loving and merciful embrace (especially __ )… we pray:

We bind our prayers together in the words Jesus taught us… OUR FATHER…

Ldr:

God of infinite glory,

your Son is exalted at your right hand

as he intercedes for us night and day. 

May we, his living Body, the Church,

seek to refashion the earth in your love. 

May Christ remain in us always until the end of time. 

In his holy Name we pray.  Amen. 

Ldr:   Come, Holy Spirit

All:     and fill the hearts of all the faithful with the fire of your love.

May Almighty God bless us with peace

     and protect us from all harm.  Amen.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God…

All:   That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.