Reflection on the Word in our Worship
Through your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who after his most glorious resurrection appeared to his Apostles, and in their sight ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, there we might also ascend, and reign with him in glory.
-Preface of the Ascension (2019 BCP p. 154)
[The Ascension] crowned [our Lord's] work of redemption. Like the High Priest of old, who first offered the sacrifice outside the tabernacle then entered with the blood into the Most Holy Place, our Lord Jesus Christ first suffered and then ascended into heaven, there to appear in the presence of God for us.
-W.H. Griffith Thomas, The Catholic Faith, (p.32)
The Collect of the Week
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
The Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
Psalm 68:1-20 (after the playlist below)
New Testament Lesson: 1 John 5:6-15
Gospel Lesson: John 17:11b-19
A downloadable Home Liturgy with Spiritual Communion follows the Psalm
(click below to listen to Incarnation's Playlist)
Psalm 68:1-20
1 Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *
let those who hate him also flee before him.
2 As the smoke vanishes, so shall you drive them away; *
and as wax melts before the fire,
so let the ungodly perish before the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
let them also be merry and joyful.
4 O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name;
magnify him who rides upon the heavens. *
The Lord is his Name; rejoice before him.
5 He is a father of the fatherless and defends the cause of the widows, *
God in his holy habitation.
6 He is the God who gives the solitary a home,
and brings the prisoners out of captivity, *
but lets the rebellious dwell in a desert land.
7 O God, when you went forth before the people, *
when you went through the wilderness,
8 The earth shook, and the heavens poured forth rain at the presence of God, *
even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God, who is the God of Israel.
9 You, O God, sent a gracious rain upon your inheritance *
and refreshed the land when it was weary.
10 Your congregation found a dwelling there, *
for you, O God, of your goodness have provided for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word; *
great was the company of those who proclaimed the tidings.
12 Kings with their armies fled, they fled, *
and the women at home divided the spoil.
13 Though you have lain among the sheepfolds, *
yet shall you be like the wings of a dove that are covered
with silver, and whose feathers shine like gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings, *
it was as if it snowed in Zalmon.
15 As the hill of Bashan, so is God’s hill, *
even a high hill, as the hill of Bashan.
16 Why look with envy, you high hills? This is God’s hill, on which it pleases him to dwell; *
surely, the Lord will abide on it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels, *
and the Lord has come from Sinai into the holy place.
18 You have gone up on high; you have led captivity captive, and received gifts from men, *
even from your enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Praised be the Lord daily, *
even the God who helps us and pours his benefits upon us.
20 He is our God, the God from whom salvation comes; *
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
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