17 MAY 2026 - ASCENSION OF THE LORD (WORLD COMMUNiCATiONS SUNDAY) YEAR A

 

1st Reading - Acts 1:1-11

    In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

    While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

    When they had gathered together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

    When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R –God mounts his throne to shouts of joy; a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

* All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness. For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. R.

* God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. R.

* For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. R.

2nd Reading - Eph 1:17-23

    Brothers and sisters:

    May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of 

wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 

    May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.

    And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. 

Gospel Acclamation - Mt 28:19a, 20b

 Alleluia, alleluia. 

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel - Mt 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

    Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

    And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

3 MAY 2026 - 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER - YEAR A

 

1st Reading - Acts 6:1-7

    As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against

the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

    So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 

    The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

    They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19

R –Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

* Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting.

Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. R.

* Upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy.

He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. R.

* See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to

deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. R.

2nd Reading - 1 Pt 2:4-9

    Beloved:

    Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

    For it says in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.” 

    Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall.” They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.

    You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 14:6

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except

through me. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel -  Jn 14:1-12

    Jesus said to his disciples: 

    “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 

    And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going, you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the 

Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

    Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.

The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 

    Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because 

of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”