Color: White

First Reading: Acts 1:1–11
Psalm: Psalm 47; antiphon: v. 5
Epistle: Ephesians 1:15–23
Gospel: Luke 24:44–53
Introit: Psalm 110:1, 4–5; antiphon: Psalm 47:5
Gradual: adapt. from Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6
Verse: Romans 6:9; Matthew 28:20b

The Ascended Lord Jesus Is with Us Always in His Church on Earth
 
After He rose from the dead, the Lord Jesus presented Himself alive to the apostles, “appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). When He ascended to the right hand of the Father, He did not orphan His Church, but He fills all things in heaven and on earth and gives gifts to His disciples. Even now, through His Church, He continues “to do and teach” (Acts 1:1), preaching “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47) even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Though the cloud hid Jesus from the sight of His disciples then, and He remains hidden from sight even now, He remains with His people through His Gospel and Sacraments. He comes to us by the Word of His apostles, by the promise of His Father and by the power of the Holy Spirit, whom He pours out upon “the church, which is his body” (Eph. 1:22–23). In this holy Christian Church, we bless God and worship Christ with joy, for in His Church He blesses us with forgiveness, lifts us up in His hands and seats us with Himself “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:20). 

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship