The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:

Seventh Sunday of Easter texts:
First Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 21-21
Psalm 1:1-6
Second Reading: I John 5:9-13
Gospel Reading: John 17:6-19

Ascension of the Lord texts:
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47:1-9 or Psalm 93:1-5
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:44-53

The liturgical color for the day is: White

It is appropriate to preach from the given texts for the 7^th Sunday of Easter or use the texts from the Ascension of the Lord.

The Ascension of the Lord is one of the festival days that occurs on the liturgical calendar that does not fall on a Sunday.  The day has been on the liturgical calendar since the 4^th century, and by tradition the day has been celebrated on the 40^th day of Easter—this year that falls on Thursday, May 913, 2024.  (Recall that the season of Easter lasts 50 days.)

The dynamic movements in the story of the ascension are worth noting and could form the outline of a sermon.  Notice what happens: 1. Jesus is blessing the disciples out on the high mountain where he has taken them.  He continues to bless them even as he his ascended.  2. The disciples’ response was worship.  There on the mountain they worshiped him.   3. They returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

From blessing to worship to great joy—those movements are gifts to us.  Just at that moment when we don’t feel any joy…when we can be about to pull our hair out in frustration…or when the blahs come along (at over a year of pandemic, the blahs are real)…stop.  Here is what we are to do—stop right in our tracks.  Lift up your head.  Lift it up.  Look up.  See that Jesus is blessing you.

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Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk