The Ascension of the Lord

The Ascension of the Lord celebrates Jesus rising into heaven, forty days after Easter. It shows that His work on earth is complete. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to His followers and tells them to share the Gospel. This is a moment of both ending and new beginning. Jesus is no longer on earth, but His mission continues through the Church.

In all three years, the readings focus on trust, hope, and mission. The disciples look up as Jesus ascends, but they are told not to stand still. They must now go out and be witnesses. The Ascension reminds us that Jesus is with the Father, yet still with us through the Spirit. We are called to keep His message alive and share His love with others.

Click on the appropriate year below to see resources, themes, homilies, and more. See how to determine the correct year.

Ascension of the Lord Year A
Ascension of the Lord Year B
Ascension of the Lord Year C

Mass Readings for the Ascension of the Lord Year A

See resources, homilies, and more for the Ascension of the Lord Year A readings here.

• First Reading: Acts 1:1-11 – Luke recounts the events that occurred between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension. Jesus appeared to his disciples, gave them instructions and promises, and was taken up into heaven while they watched.
• Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47 – A psalm of praise and exaltation to God as the king over all the earth. It describes God ascending to his throne amidst shouts of joy and trumpet blasts, and calls on all peoples to clap their hands and sing praises to him. The psalm also highlights God’s reign over the nations and his holy throne.
• Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 – A prayer from Paul for the Ephesian believers, asking God to give them spiritual wisdom and knowledge so that they may understand the hope and inheritance they have in Christ. Paul also emphasizes the power of God that was revealed when Christ was raised from the dead and exalted to the highest place, above all earthly powers and authorities.
• Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 – The resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Jesus commissions his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything he has commanded.

Mass Readings for the Ascension of the Lord Year B

See resources, homilies, and more for the Ascension of the Lord Year B readings here.

• First Reading – Acts 1:1-11: Jesus, after His resurrection, instructed the apostles to await the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem, promising them power to witness globally. He then ascended into heaven, affirming His eventual return.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 47: Clap and shout joyfully for God, the supreme ruler, as He ascends His throne amid cheers and trumpets. He reigns over all nations and sits on His sacred throne.
• Second Reading – Ephesians 1:17-23: Paul prays for believers to receive wisdom and revelation to know God fully, understanding their hope, inheritance, and the immense power granted to them, the same power that raised Christ.
• Alternate Second Reading – Ephesians 4:1-13: Paul urges believers to live humbly and gently, preserving unity and peace. Christ, who descended and ascended, bestowed gifts, appointing some as church leaders to mature and unify the faithful.
• Gospel – Mark 16:15-20: Jesus commanded His disciples to spread the gospel to the world, promising salvation to believers baptized and condemnation to non-believers. He assured that miraculous signs would follow believers, including exorcising demons, speaking new languages, and healing the sick. After these instructions, Jesus ascended to heaven. The disciples faithfully preached everywhere, with Jesus confirming their words through signs.

Mass Readings for the Ascension of the Lord Year C

See resources, homilies, and more for the Ascension of the Lord Year C readings here.

• First Reading – Acts 1:1-11: Jesus instructed the apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit and then ascended to heaven. Two angels promised he would return the same way.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 47: Praise God with joy, for He is the great king over all the earth, reigning over the nations from His holy throne.
• Second Reading – Ephesians 1:17-23: May God give you wisdom and revelation to know him better and understand the hope, inheritance, and power for believers, as seen in Christ’s resurrection and authority over all.
• Alternate Second Reading – Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23: Christ entered heaven to appear before God for us, sacrificing himself once to remove sin. We should trust and approach God with sincere hearts, holding firmly to our hope.
• Gospel – Luke 24:46-53: Jesus told his disciples that the Scriptures predicted his suffering, resurrection, and the preaching of repentance. He ascended to heaven after blessing them, and they returned joyfully to Jerusalem, continually praising God.

Spreading the Gospel to the Whole World Lesson Plan

Reflecting on the Ascension and Mark 16:15-20, youth are encouraged to think about spreading the Gospel “to the whole world.” Jesus’ command to go and proclaim the good news reminds us of our mission as Catholics to share our faith beyond our comfort zones. Sharing the Gospel doesn’t always mean formal preaching; it can be lived out through kindness, honesty, and integrity in daily interactions. This reading challenges us to find ways to communicate our faith, pray for courage, and seize the opportunities God provides to share the message of salvation with others.

Lookup Other Liturgical Dates in the Lectionary

The Bible and the Lectionary both contain Scripture, but they are used in different ways. The Bible is the full collection of sacred books. It can be read in any order for study or prayer. The Lectionary is a book of Bible readings arranged for Mass. It follows a set schedule. This helps Catholics hear the most important parts of Scripture during the Church year. Each reading in the Lectionary has a number. This number helps people find the right reading for a specific day, like the Ascension of the Lord.

The Lectionary is divided into parts for Sundays, weekdays, and feast days. Sunday readings follow a three-year cycle: Year A for Matthew, Year B for Mark, and Year C for Luke. John’s Gospel is used during special seasons. Weekday readings follow a two-year cycle. Year I is for odd-numbered years, and Year II is for even-numbered years. This setup helps Catholics grow in faith by hearing more of the Bible at Mass.

How to Determine the Liturgical Year

The liturgical cycle is a three-year sequence of A, B, and C.

• 2024 is Year B
• 2025 is Year C
• 2026 is Year A
• 2027 is Year B
• 2028 is Year C
• 2029 is Year A
• 2030 is Year B
• 2031 is Year C
• … and so on

The Ascension of the Lord marks the moment when Jesus went up into heaven. He had finished His work on earth. He had died, risen, and taught His followers. Now He returned to the Father. This event shows His place in heaven, but it also starts something new.

Before leaving, Jesus gave His followers a mission. He told them to share the Good News with everyone. He promised that the Holy Spirit would come to help them. In all three years, the readings tell us that the work of the Church is just beginning.

The disciples were still learning to trust. They watched Jesus rise and wondered what to do next. But they did not stay stuck. They went out and preached. The Ascension of the Lord teaches us to trust Jesus and follow His call.

We are part of that same mission. The Ascension of the Lord calls us to live our faith, share hope, and stay ready for the Spirit.

The Ascension of the Lord invites us to reflect on Jesus’ promise and our mission. He tells us to go out and share the Gospel. This isn’t just for His first followers. It’s for us, too. The readings remind us that we are sent.

Read the Scripture for the Ascension of the Lord and think about how it speaks to your life. Are you sharing your faith? Are you trusting in Jesus even when He feels far away? Leave a comment and share how these readings speak to you. Let’s support one another as we follow Christ.