Daily Readings

As the number of disciples continued to grow,the Hellenists complained against the Hebrewsbecause their widowswere being neglected in the daily distribution.So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,filled with the Spirit and wisdom,whom we shall appoint to this task,whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayerand to the ministry of the word."The proposal was acceptable to the whole community,so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit,also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.They presented these men to the apostleswho prayed and laid hands on them.The word of God continued to spread,and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly;even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. 

R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia.Exult, you just, in the LORD;praise from the upright is fitting.Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia.Upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia.See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver them from deathand preserve them in spite of famine.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.or:R. Alleluia. 

Beloved:Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beingsbut chosen and precious in the sight of God,and, like living stones,let yourselves be built into a spiritual houseto be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrificesacceptable to God through Jesus Christ.For it says in Scripture:Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion,a cornerstone, chosen and precious,and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone, andA stone that will make people stumble,and a rock that will make them fall.They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood,a holy nation, a people of his own,so that you may announce the praises" of himwho called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord;no one comes to the Father, except through me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus said to his disciples:"Do not let your hearts be troubled.You have faith in God; have faith also in me.In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.If there were not,would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come back again and take you to myself,so that where I am you also may be.Where I am going you know the way."Thomas said to him,"Master, we do not know where you are going;how can we know the way?"Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.If you know me, then you will also know my Father.From now on you do know him and have seen him."Philip said to him,"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a timeand you still do not know me, Philip?Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else, believe because of the works themselves.Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,and will do greater ones than these,because I am going to the Father." 

On the following sabbathalmost the whole citygathered to hear the word of the Lord.When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousyand with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said,“It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first,but since you reject itand condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life,we now turn to the Gentiles.For so the Lord has commanded us,I have made you a light to the Gentiles,that you may be an instrument of salvationto the ends of the earth.”

The Gentiles were delighted when they heard thisand glorified the word of the Lord.All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,and the word of the Lord continued to spreadthrough the whole region.The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipersand the leading men of the city,stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas,and expelled them from their territory.So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against themand went to Iconium.The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

R.    (3cd)  All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R.    Alleluia.Sing to the LORD a new song,for he has done wondrous deeds;His right hand has won victory for him,his holy arm.R.    All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R.    Alleluia.The LORD has made his salvation known:in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulnesstoward the house of Israel.R.    All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R.    Alleluia.All the ends of the earth have seenthe salvation by our God.Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;break into song; sing praise.R.    All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.or:R.    Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,and you will know the truth, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples:“If you know me, then you will also know my Father.From now on you do know him and have seen him.”Philip said to Jesus,“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a timeand you still do not know me, Philip?Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,or else, believe because of the works themselves.Amen, amen, I say to you,whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,and will do greater ones than these,because I am going to the Father.And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue: “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,and those others among you who are God-fearing,to us this word of salvation has been sent.The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him,and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophetsthat are read sabbath after sabbath.For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence,they asked Pilate to have him put to death,and when they had accomplished all that was written about him,they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.But God raised him from the dead,and for many days he appeared to thosewho had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.These are now his witnesses before the people.We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to youthat what God promised our fathershe has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus,as it is written in the second psalm,     You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”

R.        (7bc)  You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.or:R.        Alleluia.“I myself have set up my king            on Zion, my holy mountain.”I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:            The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;            this day I have begotten you.”R.        You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.or:R.        Alleluia.“Ask of me and I will give you            the nations for an inheritance            and the ends of the earth for your possession.You shall rule them with an iron rod;            you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.”R.        You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.or:R.        Alleluia.And now, O kings, give heed;            take warning, you rulers of the earth.Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;            with trembling rejoice.R.        You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.or:R.        Alleluia.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;no one comes to the Father except through me.R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus said to his disciples:“Do not let your hearts be troubled.You have faith in God; have faith also in me.In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.If there were not,would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come back again and take you to myself,so that where I am you also may be.Where I am going you know the way.”Thomas said to him,“Master, we do not know where you are going;how can we know the way?”Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me.”