Fifth Sunday of Easter
First Reading
Acts 14:21-27 (JB)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
They assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them.
Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Acts 14:21-27 (NRSV)
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra,
then on to Iconium and Antioch.
There they strengthened the souls of the disciples
and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying,
“It is through many persecutions
that we must enter the kingdom of God.”
And after they had appointed elders for them in each church,
with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord
in whom they had come to believe.
Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.
when they had spoken the word in Perga,
they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed back to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work that they had completed.
When they arrived, they called the church together
and related all that God had done with them,
and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 144:8-13 (JB)
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or
R. Alleluia.
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. R.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God,
to make known to men your mighty deeds
and the glorious splendour of your reign. R.
Yours is an everlasting kingdom;
your rule lasts from age to age. R.
Second Reading
Revelation 21:1-5 (JB)
A reading from the book of the Apocalypse
He will wipe away all the tears from their eyes.
I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’
Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new’.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Revelation 21:1-5 (NRSV)
A reading from the book of Revelation
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth;
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them as their God;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”
And the one who was seated on the throne said,
“See, I am making all things new.”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
John 13:34 (JB)
Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
Alleluia!
John 13:34 (NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
Alleluia!
Gospel
John 13:31-35 (JB)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
I give you a new commandment: love one another.
When Judas had gone Jesus said:
‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified,
and in him God has been glorified.
If God has been glorified in him,
God will in turn glorify him in himself,
and will glorify him very soon.
My little children,
I shall not be with you much longer.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another;
just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples’.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
John 13:1, 31-35 (NRSV)
A reading from the holy gospel according to John
Before the festival of the Passover;
Jesus knew that his hour had come
to depart from this world and go to the Father.
Having loved his own who were in the world,
he loved them to the end.
During the supper; when Judas had gone out, Jesus said,
“Now the Son of Man has been glorified,
and God has been glorified in him.
If God has been glorified in him,
God will also glorify him in himself
and will glorify him at once.
“Little children, I am with you only a little longer.
I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.
Just as I have loved you,
you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.