Third Week of Easter - Saturday
First Reading Acts 9:31-42
The Church was being built up, and with the consolation of
the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at
peace. She was being built up and walked in the fear of the
Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in
numbers.
As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the
holy ones living in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas,
who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was
paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you.
Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once. And all the
inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the
Lord.
Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated
is Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and
almsgiving. Now during those days she fell sick and died, so
after washing her, they laid her out in a room upstairs. Since
Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there,
sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without
delay.” So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they
took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him
weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had
made while she was with them. Peter sent them all out and knelt
down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha,
rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He gave
her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy
ones and the widows, he presented her alive. This became known
all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia See Jn 6:63c, 68c - Your words, Lord,
are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.
Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel Jn 6:60-69
To whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.
A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to John
Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This
saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his
disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this
shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to
where he was before? It is the Spirit that gives life, while the
flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit
and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus
knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the
one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have
told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him
by my Father.”
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their
former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then
said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter
answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words
of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that
you are the Holy One of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
April 28th, 2007
Third Week of Easter - Friday
First Reading Acts 9:1-20
This man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name
before the Gentiles.
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples
of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters
to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any
men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them
back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing
Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?”
The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now
get up and go into the city and you will be told what you
must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,
for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from
the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;
so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For
three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord
said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am,
Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street
called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from
Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he
has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on
him, that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied,
“Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what
evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And
here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all
who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for
this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name
before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will
show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” So Ananias
went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said,
“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to
you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your
sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things
like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He
got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered
his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he
began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he
is the Son of God.
The Word of the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia Jn 6:56 - Whoever eats my Flesh and
drinks my Blood, remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel Jn 6:52-59
My Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.
A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to John
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this
man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen,
amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of
Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true
food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and
drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the
living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of
me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike
your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this
bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching
in the synagogue in Capernaum.
The Gospel of the Lord.
April 28th, 2007
