Fifth Sunday of Easter

‘They declared to the Church all that God had done with them.’

In those days: Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

  Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

I will bless your name for ever, my God and king.

or: Alleluia.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

slow to anger, abounding in mercy.

How good is the Lord to all,

compassionate to all his creatures.

I will bless your name for ever, my God and king.

or: Alleluia.

All your works shall thank you, O Lord,

and all your faithful ones bless you.

They shall speak of the glory of your reign,

and declare your mighty deeds.

I will bless your name for ever, my God and king.

or: Alleluia.

To make known your might to the whole human race,

and the glorious splendour of your reign.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;

your rule endures for all generations.

I will bless your name for ever, my God and king.

or: Alleluia.

‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.’

  And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’

Alleluia, Alleluia.

A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord,

that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Alleluia.

‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.’

When Judas had gone out from the upper room, 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 glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you.

‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’