Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year A)

First Reading - Acts 1.3-9,12-14

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. After his suffering and death, Jesus presented himself alive to the apostles, with many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. Jesus said to them, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait here for all that is promised by the Father. John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ The apostles asked Jesus, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?’ Jesus replied, ‘You cannot know every time or season in the purposes of the Father. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ Then, as they were watching, he was taken up, and a cloud hid him from their sight. The eleven returned from the Mount of Olives to the upper room in Jerusalem where they were staying. And with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers, they devoted themselves to prayer. This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - 1 Peter 5.6-11

A reading from the first letter of Peter. Be humble in the presence of the mighty power of God; and God will raise you up at the right time. Let God, who cares for you, hold all your anxieties.

Be alert, and watchful, and steadfast in your faith. Resist your enemy, the devil, who goes about like a lion, seeking someone to devour. You know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world share the same suffering as you. And you know that after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace will fully restore you, strengthen you, and establish you in the eternal glory of Christ to which you are called. To God be the power and the glory for ever. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - John 17.1-11

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Jesus looked up to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come to glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. You granted your Son authority to give eternal life to those you have given to him; to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you have sent. Father, I have glorified you on earth by completing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, in your own presence once again, with the glory that I knew before the world began. I have made your name known to those you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me; and they have trusted your word. They know that everything I have comes from you. I have passed on to them the words that you gave to me, and they have received and trusted them. And they know that I myself came from you. I pray for them now; praying not for the whole world, but for those you have given to me, because they are yours, and they have honoured me. Now I am departing from the world, to return to you; but they will remain in the world. Father, protect them, for the honour of your name, the name that you entrusted to me. May they be one, as we are one.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.