Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year A)

First Reading - Acts 4.1-12

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Peter and John continued to speak to the crowd that had gathered, in the temple, about Jesus, and about the resurrection of the dead. The priests, and the Sadducees, were greatly annoyed, and taking the commander of the temple guard, they arrested Peter and John, and put them in a cell for the night. But many had already heard the message, and the number of believers was now about five thousand. The next day, the leaders, the elders, and the teachers of the law, all met in Jerusalem. Amongst them were Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and others from the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought in, and began to question them: ‘By what power, or in what name, are you doing this?’ Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people, you question us today about an act of kindness towards a man who was lame. We say to you, and to all the people of Israel: this man stands before you, healed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the one you crucified, and God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone the builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone,” and there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved.’ This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 Peter 2.4-9

A reading from the first letter of Peter. The scripture says: ‘See, I am laying in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and true; and whoever relies on it will never be put to shame.’ The scripture also says, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’ So come to the one who is the living stone, rejected by mortals, but chosen by God. And like living stones yourselves, be built into a spiritual temple, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, through Jesus Christ.

And for those who do not believe, the scripture also says, it is ‘a stone that makes them stumble and fall’. And so indeed they stumble and fall when they reject the word of God. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, declaring the praises of the one who called you and led you out of darkness into freedom and light. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - John 14.1-14

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not be afraid. Trust in God. Trust also in me. There is room for many in my Father’s house. I go now to prepare a place for you. And I will return for you, and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you will be also. And you already know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. Everyone who comes to the Father comes through me. And if you know me, you know my Father also, and indeed you have seen him. Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said, ‘Philip, have I been with you, all this time, and still, you do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father, for I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. The words that I speak are the words of the Father within me. And now, those who trust in me will do all that I have done, and more, because I am returning to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name; and in this way also, I will bring glory to the Father.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.