Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C)
First Reading - Acts 16.16-34
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
On one occasion, on our way to the place of prayer,
we met a slave-girl who was possessed by a demon.
She brought her owners a significant income
by fortune-telling, and casting spells.
She followed us around, crying out,
‘These men are servants of God Most High!
They proclaim the way of salvation!’
This went on for many days,
until Paul, in exasperation, turned and said,
‘I order you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
to come out of her;’ and the spirit that had
possessed her immediately left her.
When her owners saw
that their hope of making money was gone,
they seized Paul and Silas,
and dragged them into the market-place,
and before the magistrates,
saying, ‘These men are disturbing our city.
They are Hebrews, and they are promoting customs
that are not lawful for us, to accept or to practice,
as Roman citizens.’
The crowd joined in the protest, until the magistrates
had Paul and Silas flogged, and imprisoned,
ordering the jailer to keep them securely.
The jailer put Paul and Silas in the innermost cell,
and fastened their feet in chains.
About midnight,
Paul and Silas were praying, and singing hymns,
and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent
that the foundations of the prison were shaken;
and all the doors of the prison were opened,
and everyone’s chains came undone.
The jailer awoke,
and saw that the prison doors were wide open.
Assuming that the prisoners had escaped,
he drew his sword, and was about to kill himself.
But Paul shouted out,
‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’
The jailer called for lights, and rushed in,
falling down trembling before Paul and Silas.
Then he led Paul and Silas outside,
and asked them, ‘What must I do to be saved?’
Paul and Silas answered, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved - you, and all your household.’
The jailer took Paul and Silas
to his house,
and washed their wounds, and set food before them.
And Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord
to the jailer,
and to all who were in his household.
And the jailer, and all his household,
were baptised, that very night,
and were filled with joy
in their new faith.
This is the word of the Lord.
Second Reading - Revelation 21.10,22-27; 22.1-2
A reading from the book of Revelation.
In the spirit, the angel carried me away
to a great high mountain,
and showed me the holy city, the new Jerusalem,
coming down, out of heaven, from God.
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty,
and the Lamb, are themselves its temple.
The city has no need for light
from sun or moon,
for the glory of God
and the glory of the Lamb
are its light.
All nations will walk
by the light of that holy city.
The kings of the earth
will bring to that city
the glory and honour of all nations.
The gates of the city
will always be open by day
to receive those gifts of glory and honour -
and there will be no night.
There will be
no evil or falsehood there,
for the ones who enter will be
those whose names are written
in the Lamb’s book of life.
Then the angel showed me
the river
of the water of life, as bright as crystal,
flowing through
the centre of the city,
from the throne of God, and of the Lamb.
And by the river, I saw the tree of life,
with its fruit
for every month of the year,
and its leaves
for the healing of the nations.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - John 14.23-27
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I speak only the words
of the Father who sent me.
Those who love me
will live by my words.
And my Father will love them,
and we will come to them,
and make our home with them.
I say these things
while I am still with you.
But the Father will send to you, in my name,
the Holy Spirit, to be with you, who will
teach you all things, and remind you
of all that I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you -
a peace that the world cannot give.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not be afraid.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.