Fifth Sunday of Easter
See also:
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 14:21-27
After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” They appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 (R.cf. 1)
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R Alleluia.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. R.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might. R.
Let them make known your might to the children of Adam,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
and your dominion endures through all generations. R.
Second Reading – Rev 21:1-5a
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.” The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”
Gospel – Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35
When Judas had left them, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Featured Saints
Sunday takes precedence over the Optional Memorial of St. John I, Pope and martyr (†526). He suffered persecution from the Arian king Theodoric and died in Ravenna shortly after his imprisonment as a result of ill-treatment he received there.
Blessed Blandine Merten, virgin (†1918). Religious from the Order of St. Ursula, who died in Trier, Germany; she united contemplative life with initiatives to promote the human and Christian formation of youth.
St. Felix of Cantalice, religious (†1587). Capuchin friar; he customarily spent most of the night in prayer. By day he begged for alms in the streets of Rome and cared for the poor and sick.
St. Eric IX, king and martyr (†1161). Upon ascending the throne of Sweden, he won the veneration of his faithful subjects by his ardent charity and zeal for the cause of God. He built churches and sent a bishop, St. Henry, to spread the Gospel in Finland. He was brutally murdered by his enemies, while attending Mass.
Blessed Burchard, priest (†12th century). A parish priest in Beinwil, Switzerland who distinguished himself for his zeal in administering the Sacraments and his ardent charity in caring for the spiritual needs of his parishioners.
Blessed Martin Oprzadek, priest and martyr (†1942). Franciscan Polish priest, who died in a gas chamber in Hartheim, Austria, during the Second World War, for his fidelity to Christ.
Blessed Stanislaus Kubski, priest and martyr (†1942). Was killed in the gas chambers of the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany out of hatred for the Faith.
Blessed Gerard Mecatti, hermit (†1245). Following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, he distributed his possessions to the poor and went to live in a hermitage where he devoted himself to receiving pilgrims and helping the sick.
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