Sunday after Ascension (Ascension 1) Sermons and Commentary

THE COLLECT.
O God, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. 1 S. Peter 4. 7
THE end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

THE GOSPEL. S. John 15. 26.
WHEN the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that, when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.

INTROIT. Ps 27:1-12
THE Lord is my light, and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? / the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came upon me to eat up my flesh, / even mine enemies and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid; / and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require: / even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; / yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone.
6 And now shall my head be lifted up / above mine enemies round about me.
7 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness: / I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord.
Ant. Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee; / have mercy upon me, and hear me.
9 My heart hath talked of thee: 'Seek ye my face; / Thy face, Lord, will I seek.'
10 O hide not thy face from me, / nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.
11 Thou hast been my succour; / leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
12 When my father and my mother forsake me, / the Lord taketh me up.
Glory be. Repeat Antiphon.

GRADUAL. Ps 47:5-10
5 God is gone up with a merry noise, / the Lord with the sound of the trump.
6 O sing praises, sing praises unto our God; / O sing praises, sing praises unto our King.
7 For God is the King of all the earth: / sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the nations: / God sitteth upon his holy throne.
9 The princes of the people are gathered together, / with the people of the God of Abraham;
10 For the rulers of the earth belong unto God; / he is very high exalted.

Additional Propers for Eucharistic Devotions