The Ascension - 2025

 

The Ascension-Day.

Psalm 8

Domine, Dominus noster

O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world; * thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens!

2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, * that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers; * the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? * and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 Thou madest him lower than the angels, * to crown him with glory and worship.

6 Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands; * and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen; * yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; * and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord our Governor, * how excellent is thy Name in all the world!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. 

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 7.9-14

Psalter: Psalm 96

Epistle Reading: Acts 1.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 24.49-53 

Homily 

Here is a little study I sent my congregation: Take some time to go through these passages and see what the value of Christ’s ascension is for us. The Event is recorded in Luke 24:50-53 (Mark 16:19) and Acts 1:6-11. Now, after looking at those passages, dive into the following and make notes. 

•          Christ Exalted – Acts 2:32-36.            

•          Christ Erect – Acts 7:54-60.

•          Christ Enthroned – Ephesians 1:19-2:7.

•          Christ Elevated – Philippians 2:5-11.

•          Christ Exceptional – Hebrews 1:1-9, 3:5-6, 10:11-14, 12:1-3 (for starters in Hebrews, but there are other paragraphs – see if you can find them).

•          Christ Emperor – Revelation 1:5.

•          Christ’s (People) Emancipated – Colossians 3:1-4 (emancipated from vices in 3:5-17, etc.).

 

Is the Ascension of our Lord important? You bet your bottom dollar it is!