Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A)
First Reading - Acts 7.52-60
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Concluding his statement
to the high priest
and the council,
Stephen now accused them directly.
‘Your ancestors persecuted
every prophet
they were sent.
They killed those who spoke
of the coming of
the Righteous One.
And now
you have become
his betrayers
and his murderers.
You had the privilege
of receiving God’s law,
but you never obeyed it!’
The high priest
and the council
were furious
at Stephen’s words.
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven, and said,
‘I see
the glory of God,
and I see
Jesus, standing
at the right hand of God!’
But they covered their ears,
and with a loud shout,
they rushed at Stephen,
and dragged him out of the city.
Then laying their coats
at the feet
of a young man
named Saul,
they began
to stone
Stephen.
Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit.’
And falling
to his knees,
as he died,
Stephen cried out, ‘Lord,
do not hold this sin against them.’
This is the word of the Lord.
Second Reading - 1 Peter 3.15b-18a
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
Always be ready to speak about
the confidence
that you have in your faith.
Do so with gentleness, and respect,
and with a clear conscience,
so that those who speak against you
will be
put to shame
by your good conduct
in Christ.
It is better to suffer
for doing good
than to suffer
for doing wrong;
as indeed Christ also suffered -
the righteous one, suffering
for the unrighteous -
once, for the sins of all,
to bring us back to God.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - John 14.15-21
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If you love me,
and live by all that I have taught you,
I will ask the Father,
and he will send you
the Holy Spirit,
to be with you -
the Spirit of truth,
unknown to the world,
but known to you,
to be alongside you,
amongst you,
and within you.
Soon, the world
will not see me.
But you will see me.
I will not
leave you desolate.
I will come to you.
And you will live,
because I live.
And you will know
that I am in the Father.
And you will know
that you are in me,
and that
I am in you.
If you love me,
and live by all
that I have taught you,
I will love you,
and my Father
will love you,
and you will know
that I am with you.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.