The Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord

Daily Easter Prayer

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

 

Collect:
Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God,
and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for the Ascension of Christ your Son
is our exaltation,
and, where the Head has gone before in glory,
the Body is called to follow in hope.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.


Today's Readings
Acts 1:1-11; Psalms 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Ephesians 1:17-23 or Ephesians 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13; Mark 16:15-20

Daily Meditation:

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.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Jesus has gone before us into Glory
and we are called to follow him, in hope.

For now, we follow what he did,
going forth to share the good news of his love,
with those who need it the most,
nearest to us and on the margins of our society.

We trust that the Lord will work with us
and confirm our work with "accompanying signs."

We can ask today for these graces
as the community of our Risen and Ascended Lord.

I am with you always, until the end of the world. Matthew 28

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
The Lord has been lifted high above the earth and draws all things to himself. Let us cry out to him in our joy:

Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.

Lord Jesus, King of glory, you were offered once as the victim for sins, and ascended to the right hand of the Father,
- make perfect for all time those whom you sanctify.

Eternal Priest and minister of the new Covenant, you live for ever to make intercession for us,
- save the people that prays to you.

You showed yourself alive after your passion and appeared to the disciples for forty days,
- confirm our faith today.

Today you promised the Spirit to your apostles, to make them your witnesses to the ends of the earth,
- by the power of the Spirit strengthen our own witness.

Closing Prayer:
O Lord,
we thank you for allowing us to celebrate this feast
which reminds us of your going before us to heaven.
We long to join you in the gift of everylasting life
which you gained for us in your self-giving death and resurrection.
Allow us to serve your people until the day when we celelbrate together
the joy of your Kingdom,
where you live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.