Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

Lectionary: 270

Reading I

Acts 5:27-33

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the Apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this,
they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.

Responsorial Psalm

34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20

R.        (7a) The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
            his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
            blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R.        The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
            to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
            and from all their distress he rescues them.
R.        The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
            and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
            but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
R.        The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

Jn 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 3:31-36

The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

Lectionary: 268

Reading I

Acts 4:32-37

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the Apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the Apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas
(which is translated “son of encouragement”),
a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,
sold a piece of property that he owned,
then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.

Responsorial Psalm

93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5

R.        (1a)  The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
            robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R.        The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
And he has made the world firm,
            not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
            from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R.        The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:
            holiness befits your house,
            O LORD, for length of days.
R.        The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

Jn 3:14-15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man must be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him
may have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Jn 3:7b-15

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus answered and said to him,
‘How can this happen?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?
Amen, amen, I say to you,
we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen,
but you people do not accept our testimony.
If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe,
how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist

Lectionary: 555

Reading I

1 Pt 5:5b-14

Beloved:         
Clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for:

            God opposes the proud
                        but bestows favor on the humble.

So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.

Be sober and vigilant.
Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, steadfast in faith,
knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world
undergo the same sufferings.
The God of all grace
who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus
will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you
after you have suffered a little.
To him be dominion forever.  Amen.

I write you this briefly through Silvanus,
whom I consider a faithful brother,
exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.
Remain firm in it.
The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.
Greet one another with a loving kiss.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm

89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17

R.        (2)  For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
            through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
            in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R.        For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O LORD,
            and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can rank with the LORD?
            Who is like the LORD among the sons of God?
R.        For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
            in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
            and through your justice they are exalted.
R.        For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R.        Alleluia.

Alleluia

1 Cor 1:23a-24b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We proclaim Christ crucified;
he is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mk 16:15-20

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.