Today’s Readings

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,"Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,you cannot be saved."Because there arose no little dissension and debateby Paul and Barnabas with them,it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the othersshould go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and eldersabout this question.The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,decided to choose representativesand to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,and Silas, leaders among the brothers.This is the letter delivered by them:"The apostles and the elders, your brothers,to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Ciliciaof Gentile origin: greetings.Since we have heard that some of our numberwho went out without any mandate from ushave upset you with their teachingsand disturbed your peace of mind,we have with one accord decided to choose representativesand to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.So we are sending Judas and Silaswho will also convey this same message by word of mouth:'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of usnot to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,from blood, from meats of strangled animals,and from unlawful marriage.If you keep free of these,you will be doing what is right.  Farewell.'"

R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R. Alleluia.May God have pity on us and bless us;may he let his face shine upon us.So may your way be known upon earth;among all nations, your salvation.R. O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R. Alleluia.May the nations be glad and exultbecause you rule the peoples in equity;the nations on the earth you guide.R. O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R. Alleluia.May the peoples praise you, O God;may all the peoples praise you!May God bless us,and may all the ends of the earth fear him!R. O God, let all the nations praise you!or:R. Alleluia.

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountainand showed me the holy city Jerusalemcoming down out of heaven from God.It gleamed with the splendor of God.Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,like jasper, clear as crystal.It had a massive, high wall,with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationedand on which names were inscribed,the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.There were three gates facing east,three north, three south, and three west.The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,on which were inscribed the twelve namesof the twelve apostles of the Lamb.I saw no temple in the cityfor its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,for the glory of God gave it light,and its lamp was the Lamb.

Alleluia Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord,and my Father will love him and we will come to him.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples:"Whoever loves me will keep my word,and my Father will love him,and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;yet the word you hear is not minebut that of the Father who sent me."I have told you this while I am with you.The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,whom the Father will send in my name,will teach you everythingand remind you of all that I told you.Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.Not as the world gives do I give it to you.Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.You heard me tell you,'I am going away and I will come back to you.'If you loved me,you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;for the Father is greater than I.And now I have told you this before it happens,so that when it happens you may believe."

Paul reached also Derbe and Lystrawhere there was a disciple named Timothy,the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,but his father was a Greek.The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,and Paul wanted him to come along with him.On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised,for they all knew that his father was a Greek.As they traveled from city to city,they handed on to the people for observance the decisionsreached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.Day after day the churches grew stronger in faithand increased in number.They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territorybecause they had been prevented by the Holy Spiritfrom preaching the message in the province of Asia.When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.During the night Paul had a vision.A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,"Come over to Macedonia and help us."When he had seen the vision,we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.

R. (2a) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;serve the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful song.R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.Know that the LORD is God;he made us, his we are;his people, the flock he tends.R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.The LORD is good:his kindness endures forever,and his faithfulness, to all generations.R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.or:R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.If then you were raised with Christ,seek what is above,where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;but because you do not belong to the world,and I have chosen you out of the world,the world hates you.Remember the word I spoke to you,'No slave is greater than his master.'If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,because they do not know the one who sent me."

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Bede the Venerable, please go here.

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Gregory VII, please go here.

For the readings of the Optional Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, please go here.

The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,decided to choose representativesand to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,and Silas, leaders among the brothers.This is the letter delivered by them:"The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Ciliciaof Gentile origin: greetings.Since we have heard that some of our numberwho went out without any mandate from ushave upset you with their teachingsand disturbed your peace of mind,we have with one accord decided to choose representativesand to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.So we are sending Judas and Silaswho will also convey this same message by word of mouth:'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of usnot to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,from blood, from meats of strangled animals,and from unlawful marriage.If you keep free of these,you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"And so they were sent on their journey.Upon their arrival in Antiochthey called the assembly together and delivered the letter.When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.

R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia.My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;I will sing and chant praise.Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!I will wake the dawn.R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia.I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,I will chant your praise among the nations.For your mercy towers to the heavens,and your faithfulness to the skies.Be exalted above the heavens, O God;above all the earth be your glory!R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I call you my friends, says the Lord,for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples:"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.No one has greater love than this,to lay down one's life for one's friends.You are my friends if you do what I command you.I no longer call you slaves,because a slave does not know what his master is doing.I have called you friends,because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.It was not you who chose me, but I who chose youand appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.This I command you: love one another."