7th Sunday of Easter

Date: May 28, 2017

First Reading (Acts 1: 12–14)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
After Jesus had been taken up to heaven, the apostles then returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olives, which is a fifteen-minute walk away. On entering the city they went to the room upstairs where they were staying. Present there were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alpheus; Simon the Zealot and Judas son of James. All of these together gave themselves to constant prayer. With them were some women and also Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Second Reading (1 Peter 4: 13–16)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Peter.
Beloved: You should be glad to share in the sufferings of Christ because, on the day his Glory is revealed, you will also fully rejoice. You are fortunate if you are insulted because of the name of Christ, for the Spirit of glory rests on you. I supposed that none of you should suffer for being a murderer, a thief, a criminal or an informer; but if anyone suffers on account of being a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace; rather let this name bring glory to God.

Gospel (John 17: 1–11a)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and stated, "Father, the hour has come; give glory to your Son, that the Son may give glory to you. You have given him power over all mortals, and you want him to bring eternal life to all you have entrusted to him. For this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the One you sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father, give me in your presence the same Glory I had with you before the world began. I have made your name known to those you gave me from the world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they kept your word. And now they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you. I have given them the teaching I received from you, and they received it and know in truth that I came from you; and they believe that you have sent me. I pray for them; I do not pray for the world but for those who belong to you and whom you have given to me — indeed all I have is yours and all you have is mine — and now they are my glory. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world whereas I am going to you."

The Ascension of the Lord

Date: May 25, 2017

First Reading (Acts 1: 1–11)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
In the first part of my work, Theophilus, I wrote of all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he ascended to heaven. But first he had instructed through the Holy Spirit the apostles he had chosen. After his passion, he presented himself to them, giving many signs that he was alive; over a period of forty days he appeared to them and taught them concerning the kingdom of God. Once when he had been eating with them, he told them, "Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the fulfillment of the Father's promise about which I have spoken to you: John baptized with water, but will be baptized with the Holy Spirit within a few days." When they had come together, they asked him, "Is it now that you will restore the Kingdom of Israel?" And he answered, "It is not for you to know the time and the steps which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth." After Jesus stated this, he was taken up before their eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. While they were still looking up to heaven where he went, suddenly, two men dressed in white stood beside them and stated, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will return in the same way as you have seen him go there."

Second Reading (Ephesians 1: 17–23)

A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
Brothers and sisters: May the God of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Father of Glory, reveal himself to you and give you a spirit of wisdom, that you may know him. May he enlighten your inner vision, that you may appreciate the things we hope for, since we were called by God. May you know how great is the inheritance, the glory, God sets apart for his saints; may you understand with what extraordinary power he acts in favor of us who believe. He revealed his almighty power in Christ when he raised him from the dead and had him sit at his right hand in heaven, far above all rule, power, authority, dominion, or any other supernatural force that could be named, not only in this world but in the world to come as well. Thus has God put all things under the feet of Christ and set him above all things, as head of the Church which is his body. He who fills all in all unfolds his fullness in the Church.

Gospel (Matthew 28: 16–20)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
As for the Eleven disciples, they went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Jesus, they bowed before him, although some doubted. Then Jesus approached them and stated, "I have given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples from all nations. Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to fulfill all that I have commanded you. I am with you always until the end of this world."

6th Sunday of Easter

Date: May 21, 2017

First Reading (Acts 8: 5–8 and 14–17)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Philip went down to a town of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. All the people paid close attention to what Philip stated as they listened to him and saw the miraculous signs which he did. For in cases of possession, the unclean spirits came out shrieking loudly. Many people who were paralyzed or crippled were healed. So there was great joy in that town. Now, when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. They went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not as yet come down upon any of them since they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. So Peter and John laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Second Reading (1 Peter 3: 15–18)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Peter.
Beloved: Bless the Lord Christ in your hearts. Always have an answer ready when you are called upon to account for your hope, but give it simply and with respect. Keep your conscience clear so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your upright, Christian living. Better to suffer for doing good, if it is God's will, than for doing wrong. Remember how Christ died, once and for all, for our sins. He, the just one, died for the unjust in order to lead us to God. He died as humans do, but was raised to life by the Spirit.

Gospel (John 14: 15–21)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Jesus stated this to his disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, that Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him for he is with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans, I am coming to you. A little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me because I live and you will also live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who loves me. If he loves me, he will also be loved by my Father; I too shall love him and show myself clearly to him."

5th Sunday of Easter

Date: May 14, 2017

First Reading (Acts 6: 1–7)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the so-called Hellenists complained against the so-called Hebrews, because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve summoned the whole body of disciples together and stated, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to serve at tables. So, friends, choose from among yourselves seven respected men full of Spirit and wisdom, that we may appoint them to this task. As for us, we shall give ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." The whole community agreed and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenus and Nicolaus of Antioch who was a proselyte. They presented these men to the apostles who first prayed over them and then laid hands upon them. The Word of God continue to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly and even many priests accepted the faith.

Second Reading (1 Peter 2: 4–9)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Peter.
Beloved: The Lord is the living stone rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him. On drawing close to him, you also became living stones built into a spiritual temple, a holy community of priests offering spiritual sacrifices which please God through Jesus Christ. Scripture states: See, I lay in Zion a chosen and precious cornerstone; whoever believes in him will not be disappointed. This means honor for you who believed, but for unbelievers, also the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone and it is a stone to stumble over, a rock which lays people low. They stumble over it in rejecting the Word, but the plan of God is fulfilled in this. You are a chosen race, a community of priest-kings, a consecrated nation, a people God has made his own to proclaim his wonders. For he called you from your darkness to his own wonderful light.

Gospel (John 14: 1–12)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Jesus stated this to his disciples, "Do not be troubled; trust in God and trust in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms. Otherwise I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to me, so that where I am, you also may be. Yet you know the way where I am going." Thomas stated to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus stated, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him and you have seen him." Philip asked him, "Lord, show us the Father, and that is enough." Jesus replied to Philip, "What? I have been with you so long and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever sees me sees the Father; how can you say: 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? All that I say to you, I do not say of myself. The Father who dwells in me is doing his own work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; at least believe it on the evidence of these works that I do. Truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will do the same works that I do; and he will even do greater than these, for I am going to the Father."

4th Sunday of Easter

Date: May 7, 2017

First Reading (Acts 2: 14a and 36–41)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, and, with a loud voice, addressed the people, "Let Israel then know for sure that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified." When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?" Peter answered: "Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you all receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our God may call." With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them stating, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day.

Second Reading (1 Peter 2: 20b–25)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Peter.
Brothers and sisters: If you endure punishment when you have done well, that is a grace of God. This is your calling: remember Christ who suffered for you, leaving an example so that you may follow in his way. He did no wrong and there was no deceit in his mouth. He did not return insult for insult and, when suffering, he did not curse but put himself in the hands of God who judges justly. He went to the cross burdened with our sins so that we might die to sin and live an upright life. For by his wounds you have been healed. You were like stray sheep, but you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Gospel (John 10: 1–10)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Jesus stated this to his disciples and the Pharisees, "Truly, I say to you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the shepherd of the sheep enters by the gate. The keeper opens the gate to him and the sheep hear his voice; he calls each of his sheep by name and leads them out. When has brought out all his own, he goes before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, rather they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this comparison, but they did not understand what he was stating to them. Therefore, Jesus stated, "Truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep. All who came were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not hear them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved; he will go in and out freely and find food. The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, life in all its fullness."