The Lessons Appointed for Use on the

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Year C

Acts 13:44-52
or Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18
Revelation 19:1,4-9
or Acts 13:44-52
John 13:31-35
Psalm 145 or 145:1-9

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Acts 13:44-52

The next sabbath after Paul first spoke in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,

so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

or

Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.

You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD.

You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.

You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Psalm 145 or 145:1-9 Page 801, BCP

Exaltabo te, Deus

1

I will exalt you, O God my King, *
and bless your Name for ever and ever.

2

Every day will I bless you *
and praise your Name for ever and ever.

3

Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
there is no end to his greatness.

4

One generation shall praise your works to another *
and shall declare your power.

5

I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty *
and all your marvelous works.

6

They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, *
and I will tell of your greatness.

7

They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; *
they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

8

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, *
slow to anger and of great kindness.

9

The LORD is loving to everyone *
and his compassion is over all his works.

10

All your works praise you, O LORD, *
and your faithful servants bless you.

11

They make known the glory of your kingdom *
and speak of your power;

12

That the peoples may know of your power *
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *
your dominion endures throughout all ages.

14

The LORD is faithful in all his words *
and merciful in all his deeds.

15

The LORD upholds all those who fall; *
he lifts up those who are bowed down.

16

The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD, *
and you give them their food in due season.

17

You open wide your hand *
and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

18

The LORD is righteous in all his ways *
and loving in all his works.

19

The LORD is near to those who call upon him, *
to all who call upon him faithfully.

20

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; *
he hears their cry and helps them.

21

The LORD preserves all those who love him, *
but he destroys all the wicked.

22

My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; *
let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.

Revelation 19:1,4-9

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

"Hallelujah!

Salvation and glory and power to our God,

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying,

"Amen. Hallelujah!"

And from the throne came a voice saying,

"Praise our God,

all you his servants,

and all who fear him,

small and great."

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,

"Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready;

to her it has been granted to be clothed

with fine linen, bright and pure"--

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God."

or

Acts 13:44-52

[See above]

John 13:31-35

At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."