Thursday, 14 May 2026
Ascension of the Lord
Readings for the universal ChurchGeneral Roman Calendar, used by Catholics worldwide
First Reading
1Certainly, O Theophilus, I composed the first discourse about everything that Jesus began to do and to teach, 2instructing the Apostles, whom he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, even until the day on which he was taken up. 3He also presented himself alive to them, after his Passion, appearing to them throughout forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God with many elucidations. 4And dining with them, he instructed them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but that they should wait for the Promise of the Father, “about which you have heard,” he said, “from my own mouth. 5For John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days from now.” 6Therefore, those who had assembled together questioned him, saying, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” 7But he said to them: “It is not yours to know the times or the moments, which the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit, passing over you, and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” 9And when he had said these things, while they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10And while they were watching him going up to heaven, behold, two men stood near them in white vestments. 11And they said: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall return in just the same way that you have seen him going up to heaven.”
Responsorial Psalm
2All nations, clap your hands. Shout joyfully to God with a voice of exultation.
3For the Lord is exalted and terrible: a great King over all the earth.
6God ascends with jubilation, and the Lord with the voice of the trumpet.
7Sing psalms to our God, sing psalms. Sing psalms to our King, sing psalms.
8For God is the King of all the earth. Sing psalms wisely.
9God will reign over the peoples. God sits upon his holy throne.
Second Reading
17so that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation to you, in knowledge of him. 18May the eyes of your heart be illuminated, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and the wealth of the glory of his inheritance with the saints, 19and the preeminent magnitude of his virtue toward us, toward we who believe in accord with the work of his powerful virtue, 20which he wrought in Christ, raising him from the dead and establishing him at his right hand in the heavens, 21above every principality and power and virtue and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age, but even in the future age. 22And he has subjected all things under his feet, and he has made him the head over the entire Church, 23which is his body and which is the fullness of him who accomplishes everything in everyone.
Gospel
16Now the eleven disciples went on to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And, seeing him, they worshipped him, but certain ones doubted. 18And Jesus, drawing near, spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19Therefore, go forth and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have ever commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the consummation of the age.”
Why two sets of readings today? The Church lets each country’s bishops adjust the calendar for their people. In most of the United States, including all of Florida, the Ascension is moved from this Thursday to Sunday, so more people can celebrate it at Sunday Mass. Catholics in many other countries celebrate it today. In the United States, today is instead the feast of Saint Matthias, the apostle chosen to take the place of Judas.
In the United StatesCelebrated today in Florida and most U.S. dioceses
Saint Matthias, Apostle
First Reading
15In those days, Peter, rising up in the midst of the brothers, said (now the crowd of men altogether was about one hundred and twenty): 16“Noble brothers, the Scripture must be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit predicted by the mouth of David about Judas, who was the leader of those who apprehended Jesus. 17He had been numbered among us, and he was chosen by lot for this ministry.
20For it has been written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let their dwelling place be desolate and may there be no one who dwells within it,’ and ‘Let another take his episcopate.’ 21Therefore, it is necessary that, out of these men who have been assembling with us throughout the entire time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John, until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these be made a witness with us of his Resurrection.” 23And they appointed two: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24And praying, they said: “May you, O Lord, who knows the heart of everyone, reveal which one of these two you have chosen, 25to take a place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas prevaricated, so that he might go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots concerning them, and the lot fell upon Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven Apostles.
Responsorial Psalm
1Alleluia. Praise the Lord, children. Praise the name of the Lord.
2Blessed is the name of the Lord, from this time forward and even forever.
3From the rising of the sun, even to its setting, praiseworthy is the name of the Lord.
4The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory is high above the heavens.
5Who is like the Lord, our God, who dwells on high,
6and who gazes upon the humble things in heaven and on earth?
7He lifts up the needy from the ground, and he urges the poor away from filth,
8so that he may place him with the leaders, with the leaders of his people.
Gospel
9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my precepts, you shall abide in my love, just as I also have kept my Father’s precepts and I abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be fulfilled. 12This is my precept: that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends, if you do what I instruct you. 15I will no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his Lord is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything whatsoever that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you. 16You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. And I have appointed you, so that you may go forth and bear fruit, and so that your fruit may last. Then whatever you have asked of the Father in my name, he shall give to you. 17This I command you: that you love one another.
Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain). Reading citations: cpbjr/catholic-readings-api (MIT license). The Lectionary text used at Mass in the United States is the NABRE, which you can read at USCCB.