Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – Year A

First Reading

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11

Jesus is taken up to heaven in the presence of the apostles.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 47:2-3,6-9

Sing praise to God as he mounts his throne.

Second Reading

Ephesians 1:17-23

God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus charges his disciples to make disciples of all nations and promises to be with them forever.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today’s Gospel is taken from the conclusion of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel quickly moves from the disciples’ discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb, to Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, to the commission that Jesus gives his disciples in today’s Gospel.

The Final Commission, as this Gospel is sometimes called, is given on the mountaintop. Throughout Scripture, the most important events happen on the mountaintop, and Matthew has used this motif throughout his Gospel. Earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, Peter, James, and John had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountaintop (Matthew 17:1-8). Also in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus taught the crowds from the mountaintop in what we now call the Sermon on the Mount.

Here we are told that the eleven disciples go the mountaintop in Galilee, as Jesus had instructed through Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (cf. Matthew 28:9-10). They see Jesus, and both worship and doubt at the same time. Jesus approaches them and commissions them to baptize and teach, "to make disciples of all nations." It is a task which Jesus had previously prepared his disciples for; recall that Jesus had sent the twelve apostles to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal (cf. Matthew 10:1-15). However, earlier the Twelve were sent only to the House of Israel; in this Final Commission, the eleven are told to go to "all nations." The mission of Jesus is now to be taken to all people; the task now is to baptize and to teach.

Jesus commissions his disciples to baptize in the name of the Trinity, one of the clearest attestations found in Scripture for baptism in the name of the Trinity. In the Acts of the Apostles and in the Letters of Paul, baptism is more frequently offered "in the name of Jesus."

The ending of Matthew’s Gospel can be understood as the beginning of the Church. Jesus commissions his disciples to continue to teach in his name and to bring others into the community of disciples through baptism. The Gospel ends, as it had begun, with the promise that Jesus will continue to be Emmanuel, "God with us" (cf. Matthew 1:23), for all eternity.

Responsorial Psalm

This rendition of Psalm 117 comes from JesCom, a ministry of the Jesuits of the Philippines. It is written as the Responsorial Psalm for the Solemnity of the Ascension.

Ye Olde Garage Sale This Sunday

The monthly Sunday Sale will be this Sunday, May 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please come and visit. Just look for us at the far Northeast Parking Lot and we will be right there by the American Flag. We look forward to seeing you.



If you are interested in joining this ministry, please leave your name and phone number at the church office and we will definitely get back to you.

Blood Drive This Sunday



Our Knights of Columbus are hosting another Blood Drive this Sunday, May 17. See the attached flyer for information on how to register. 

Million Meal Event 

Sponsored by the Deacons of the Diocese of San Diego

Many of our parishioners have participated in the past in the Million Meals Event which has been very successful. In fact, it is now a Two Million Meals Event. See the flyer attached for the details about this year’s event.

Evento del Millón de Comidas



Muchos de nuestros feligreses han participado anteriormente en el Evento del Millón de Comidas, el cual ha tenido un gran éxito. De hecho, ahora se trata del Evento de los Dos Millones de Comidas. Consulte los folletos adjuntos para conocer los detalles sobre el evento de este año.

Notas Pastorales

Solemnidad de la Ascensión del Señor 

Este domingo, al celebrar la gran fiesta de la Ascensión del Señor, la Iglesia nos invita a elevar nuestro corazón al cielo mientras permanecemos fielmente comprometidos con nuestra misión aquí en la tierra. La Ascensión no es una despedida, sino una promesa: Cristo, que vuelve al Padre, no nos abandona. Más bien, permanece con nosotros de una manera nueva y poderosa, llamándonos a ser sus testigos en el mundo. 

En el Evangelio escuchamos al Señor enviar a sus discípulos a anunciar la Buena Nueva y a confiar en su presencia constante. La imagen de Cristo ascendiendo nos recuerda que nuestro verdadero hogar está con Dios, pero nuestra misión continúa aquí. No somos simples observadores de la fe; somos participantes activos en el plan de salvación de Dios. La misma misión confiada a los apóstoles ahora nos ha sido confiada a nosotros: vivir el Evangelio con valentía en nuestra vida diaria. 

La Ascensión también nos asegura que Jesús intercede por nosotros a la derecha del Padre. Él comprende nuestras luchas, nuestras dudas y nuestras esperanzas. Cuando nos sentimos débiles o inseguros, podemos encontrar consuelo sabiendo que Cristo ha ido delante de nosotros y nos prepara un lugar. Nuestra vida, entonces, debe ser un camino hacia esa comunión eterna, guiado por la fe, la esperanza y el amor. 

A veces, como los discípulos, podemos quedarnos mirando al cielo preguntándonos dónde está Dios en medio de los desafíos de la vida. Sin embargo, también a nosotros se nos recuerda que no debemos quedarnos inmóviles, sino avanzar con confianza. La partida de Cristo es también un envío. Estamos llamados a llevar su presencia a nuestros hogares, lugares de trabajo y comunidades mediante actos de bondad, perdón y compasión. 

Al celebrar este Domingo de la Ascensión, preguntémonos: ¿Cómo estoy respondiendo al llamado de Cristo? ¿Dónde me invita Él a ser testigo esta semana? Ya sea mediante un sencillo acto de amor, una palabra de aliento o un renovado compromiso con la oración, cada paso que damos en la fe da fruto. 

Que nos alegremos en la esperanza de la Ascensión, confiando en que Cristo permanece siempre con nosotros. Y mientras seguimos nuestro camino, mantengamos nuestros ojos fijos en el cielo, aun cuando nuestras manos continúen trabajando en la construcción del Reino de Dios aquí en la tierra.

Bendiciones siempre.



P. George G. Pérez, CJM

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866