THE
READINGS
April 24, 2016
FIRST READING: Acts 11:1-18
1Now the apostles and
the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the
word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised
believers criticized him, 3saying, "Why did you go to
uncircumcised men and eat with them?" 4Then Peter began to
explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5I was in the city of
Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large
sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came
close to me. 6As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals,
beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7I also heard a
voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' 8But I replied,
'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9But
a second time the voice answered from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you
must not call profane.' 10This happened three times; then everything
was pulled up again to heaven. 11At that very moment three men, sent
to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12The
Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and
us. These six brothers also
accompanied
me, and we entered the man's house. 13He told us how he had seen the
angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is
called Peter; 14he will give you a message by which you and your
entire household will be saved.' 15And as I began to speak, the Holy
Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16And
I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water,
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17If then God gave
them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ,
who was I that I could hinder God?" 18When they heard this,
they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even
to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
PSALM: Psalm 148 - please read responsively
1Hallelujah! Praise the
LORD from the heavens; praise God in the heights.
2Praise the LORD, all
you angels; sing praise, all you hosts of heaven.
3Praise the LORD, sun
and moon; sing praise, all you shining stars.
4Praise the LORD, heaven
of heavens, and you waters above the heavens.
5Let them praise the
name of the LORD, who commanded, and they were created,
6who made them stand
fast forever and ever,
giving them a law that shall not
pass away.
7Praise the LORD from
the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps;
8fire and hail, snow and
fog, tempestuous wind, doing God's will;
9mountains and all
hills, fruit trees and all cedars;
Continued
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10wild beasts and all
cattle, creeping things and flying birds;
11sovereigns of the earth
and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world;
12young men and maidens,
old and young together.
13Let them praise the
name of the LORD, whose name only is exalted,
whose splendor is over earth and
heaven.
14The LORD has raised up
strength for the people
and praise for all faithful
servants,
SECOND READING: Revelation 21:1-6
1Then I 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. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"See, the home of God is among
mortals. He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4he
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." 5And
the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things
new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and
true." 6Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning
and the end. To the thirsty I will give
water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Stand
P: The holy gospel according to St. John, the 13th
chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL: John 13:31-35
31When he had gone out,
Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been
glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also
glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little
children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I
said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 34I
give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved
you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know
that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
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