The Sunday after Ascension Day
The Collect of the Day
O God,
the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph
to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave
us comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to
that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 1:6-14
Today’s
first reading begins with Luke’s account of the Ascension of Jesus. The
disciples still do not understand the nature of Jesus being the long-awaited
Messiah. They still expect an earthly kingdom. If these are their expectations,
Jesus disappoints. Instead, they are called to witness to Jesus’ life, death,
and resurrection in his absence. Jesus then leaves them, and they do as he
commanded, await the coming of the Spirit in Jerusalem.
1:6 When the apostles had come
together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the
kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied,
“It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his
own authority. 8 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.” 9 When he had said this, as
they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up
toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 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.” 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the
mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went
to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and
Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and
Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All
these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain
women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36
Our psalm is a plea to God to “rise up” and exercise his
power and authority. The psalmist has a view of God as not always attentive,
like the rain. Many of the psalms contain this anxiety. Nevertheless, God comes
in majestic power to order the creation and make good on his covenant with the
people.
1 Let God arise, and let his enemies be
scattered; *
let those who hate him flee before
him.
2 Let them vanish like smoke when the wind
drives it away; *
as the wax melts at the fire, so
let the wicked perish at
the
presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice
before God; *
let them also be merry and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;
exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *
Yahweh
is his Name, rejoice before him!
5 Father of orphans, defender of widows, *
God in his holy habitation!
6 God gives the solitary a home and brings
forth prisoners
into
freedom; *
but the rebels shall live in dry
places.
7 O God, when you went forth before your
people, *
when you marched through the
wilderness,
8 The earth shook, and the skies poured down
rain,
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,
*
at the presence of God, the God of
Israel.
9 You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your
inheritance; *
you refreshed the land when it was
weary.
10 Your people found their home in it; *
in your goodness, O God, you have
made provision for the poor.
33 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord.
34 He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; *
he sends forth his voice, his
mighty voice.
35 Ascribe power to God; *
his majesty is over Israel
36 How wonderful is God in his holy places! *
the God of Israel giving strength
and power to his people!
Blessed be God!
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
We have been
reading through this letter throughout Eastertide. A primary theme is
reiterated here: the Christian response to suffering for being followers of
Jesus. This kind of suffering should be accepted and borne with joy and
humility. The anxiety caused by suffering should be cast on God who is the one
who restores, supports, strengthens and establishes us.
4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at
the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though
something strange were happening to you. 13 But
rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be
glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are
blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on
you. 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he
cares for you. 8 Discipline
yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls
around, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist
him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in
all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10 And after you have suffered for a little
while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Reading: John 17:1-11
Our Gospel reading is from chapter 17 of John’s Gospel, the
end of Jesus’ long teaching following the Last Supper. It is often referred to
as “the high priestly prayer,” because it is Jesus’ intercession for his
followers, particularly that they might remain one, even in the midst of the
confusion and doubt he knows will occur in his absence. Overall, a great theme
of John’s Gospel is expressed:
knowing/believing in Jesus is eternal life itself.
17:1 Jesus looked up to heaven and
said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify
you, 2 since you have given him
authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that
they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the
work that you gave me to do. 5 So
now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your
presence before the world existed. 6 I
have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were
yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given
me is from you; 8 for the words
that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know
in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking
on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they
are yours. 10 All mine are yours,
and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but
they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in
your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
The
Scripture quotations (except for the psalm) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ
in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. The Collect of the Day and the Psalm
translation are from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries are copyright © 2020,
Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY
14843, www.epiphanyesources.com. All
rights reserved. Permission given to
copy for group study. Bulletin inserts
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