The lesson for Ascension Thursday comes from Acts chapter 1. In the first book, O Theophilus,

I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up

after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented

himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days, and speaking

about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem,

but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said,

You heard from me for John baptized with water,

but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

So when they had come together, they asked him,

Lord, will you now at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? He said to them, it is not for you to know

times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority, but you will receive power when the

Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria

and to the end of the earth. And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up,

and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went,

behold, two men stood by them in white robes and said, men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?

This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him

go into heaven. A continuation of the Holy Gospel, according to St. Mark,

afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table,

and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

And he said to them, go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Whoever believes in his baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

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