April 21, 2015

Reading

The Acts of the Apostles   7: 51-8:1

7:51	Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you ever resist the Holy Spirit. Just as your fathers did, so also do you do.
7:52	Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the advent of the Just One. And you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him.
7:53	You received the law by the actions of Angels, and yet you have not kept it.”
7:54	Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him.
7:55	But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.”
7:56	Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him.
7:57	And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul.
7:58	And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
7:59	Then, having been brought to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his murder.

Acts of the Apostles 8

8:1	Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to John    6: 30-35

6:30	And so they said to him: “Then what sign will you do, so that we may see it and believe in you? What will you work?
6:31	Our fathers ate manna in the desert, just as it has been written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
6:32	Therefore, Jesus said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
6:33	For the bread of God is he who descends from heaven and gives life to the world.”
6:34	And so they said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
6:35	Then Jesus said to them: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.