READER 1

After Christ had ascended into heaven, two angels appeared, dressed all in white.

READER 2

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?"

READER 3

This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

READER 1

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky,

READER 2

and all the nations of the earth will mourn.

READER 3

They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky,

READER 2

with power and great glory.

READER 1

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call,

READER 2

and they will gather his elect from the four winds,

READER 3

from one end of the heavens to the other.

READER 1

No one knows about that day or hour,

READER 2

not even the angels in heaven,

READER 3

nor the Son, but only the Father.

READER 2

No one knows about that day or hour

READER 1

This how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

READER 2

Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

READER 3

Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

READER 2

one will be taken

READER 3

and the other left.

READER 1

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there,

READER 2

the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control,

READER 3

will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

READER 1

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,

READER 2

like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet,

READER 3

like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet,

READER 2

so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

READER 1

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.

READER 2

Good for them

READER 3

Good for those servants

READER 1

I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve,

READER 2

will have them recline at the table

READER 3

and will come and wait on them.

READER 1

It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready,

READER 2

even if he comes in the second

READER 3

or third watch of the night.

READER 2

Good for them

READER 3

Good for those servants.

READER 1

But understand this:

READER 2

If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming,

READER 3

he would not have let his house be broken into.

READER 1

If the owner of the house had been awake

READER 2

alert

READER 3

listening

READER 1

watching

READER 2

aware

READER 3

he would not have let his house broken into.

READER 1

You also must be ready,

READER 2

because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

READER 1

He is coming

READER 2

Like a thief in the night

READER 3

a thief in the night

READER 1

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."

ALL

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.