Acts 22:30; 23

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Antiphons and Readings on page 579 of the Daily Missal

Entrance Antiphon

With boldness let us approach the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace as a timely help, alleluia.

First Reading: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

In those days:
Desiring to know the real reason why the Jews accused Paul,
the tribune unbound him,
and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet,
and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees
and the other Pharisees,
he cried out in the council, “Brothers and sisters, I am a Pharisee,
a son of Pharisees;
with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead
I am on trial.”

And when he had said this,
a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees;
and the assembly was divided.
For the Sadducees say
that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit;
but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
Then a great clamour arose;
and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party
stood up and contended,
“We find nothing wrong in this man.
What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”
And when the dissension became violent, the tribune,
afraid that Paul would be torn in pieces by them,
commanded the soldiers to go down
and take him by force from among them
and bring him into the barracks.

The following night the Lord stood by him and said,
“Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem,
so you must bear witness also at Rome.”

The Word of the Lord

Responsorial psalm: Ps 16:1-2a and 5.7.8-9-10.11 (R.1)

Let us pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/.  Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord.”
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup,
you yourself who secure my lot.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord before me always,
with him at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my flesh shall rest in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to hell,
nor let your holy one see corruption.

You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, bliss forever.

R/. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge

Please stand for the Gospel

Alleluia, Alleluia. May they all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that the world may believe that you have sent me, says the Lord. Alleluia.

 

 

Gospel: John 17:20-26

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

At that time:
[Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and prayed, saying]
“I do not pray for these only,
but also for those who believe in me through their word,
that they may all be one;
even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The glory which you have given me I have given to them,
that they may be one even as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may become perfectly one,
so that the world may know that you have sent me
and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me,
may be with me where I am,
to behold my glory which you have given me
in your love for me before the foundation of the world.
O righteous Father, the world has not known you,
but I have known you;
and these know that you have sent me.
I made known to them your name, and I will make it known,
that the love with which you have loved me
may be in them, and I in them.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Communion antiphon
I tell you the truth, it is for your good that I go; for if I do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you, says the Lord, alleluia