Reading 1 Acts 15:22-31 The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church,decided to choose representativesand to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,and Silas, leaders among the brothers.This is the letter delivered by them:"The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers,to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Ciliciaof Gentile origin: greetings.Since we have heard that some of our numberwho went out without any mandate from ushave upset you with their teachingsand disturbed your peace of mind,we have with one accord decided to choose representativesand to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.So we are sending Judas and Silaswho will also convey this same message by word of mouth:'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of usnot to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,from blood, from meats of strangled animals,and from unlawful marriage.If you keep free of these,you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"And so they were sent on their journey.Upon their arrival in Antiochthey called the assembly together and delivered the letter.When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation. Responsorial Psalm Ps 57:8-9, 10 and 12 R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia.My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;I will sing and chant praise.Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!I will wake the dawn.R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia.I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,I will chant your praise among the nations.For your mercy towers to the heavens,and your faithfulness to the skies.Be exalted above the heavens, O God;above all the earth be your glory!R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 15:15b R. Alleluia, alleluia.I call you my friends, says the Lord,for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 15:12-17 Jesus said to his disciples:"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.No one has greater love than this,to lay down one's life for one's friends.You are my friends if you do what I command you.I no longer call you slaves,because a slave does not know what his master is doing.I have called you friends,because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.It was not you who chose me, but I who chose youand appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.This I command you: love one another." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 15:7-21 After much debate had taken place,Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters,"My brothers, you are well aware that from early daysGod made his choice among you that through my mouththe Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe.And God, who knows the heart,bore witness by granting them the Holy Spiritjust as he did us.He made no distinction between us and them,for by faith he purified their hearts.Why, then, are you now putting God to the testby placing on the shoulders of the disciplesa yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?On the contrary, we believe that we are savedthrough the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they."The whole assembly fell silent,and they listenedwhile Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wondersGod had worked among the Gentiles through them.After they had fallen silent, James responded,"My brothers, listen to me.Symeon has described how God first concerned himselfwith acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:After this I shall returnand rebuild the fallen hut of David;from its ruins I shall rebuild itand raise it up again,so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord,even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked.Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,known from of old.It is my judgment, therefore,that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols,unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.For Moses, for generations now,has had those who proclaim him in every town,as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath." Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 10 R.(3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.or:R. Alleluia.Sing to the LORD a new song;sing to the LORD, all you lands.Sing to the LORD; bless his name.R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.or:R. Alleluia.Announce his salvation, day after day.Tell his glory among the nations;among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.or:R. Alleluia.Say among the nations: The LORD is king.He has made the world firm, not to be moved;he governs the peoples with equity.R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 15:9-11 Jesus said to his disciples:"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.Remain in my love.If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,just as I have kept my Father's commandmentsand remain in his love."I have told you this so thatmy joy might be in you andyour joy might be complete." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Readings for the Optional Memorial of John of Avila, Priest and Doctor of the ChurchReading 1 Acts 15:1-6 Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,"Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,you cannot be saved."Because there arose no little dissension and debateby Paul and Barnabas with them,it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the othersshould go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbytersabout this question. They were sent on their journey by the Church,and passed through Phoenicia and Samariatelling of the conversion of the Gentiles,and brought great joy to all the brethren.When they arrived in Jerusalem,they were welcomed by the Church,as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,and they reported what God had done with them.But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believersstood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise themand direct them to observe the Mosaic law."The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter. Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 R.(see 1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.I rejoiced because they said to me,"We will go up to the house of the LORD."And now we have set footwithin your gates, O Jerusalem.R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.Jerusalem, built as a citywith compact unity.To it the tribes go up,the tribes of the LORD.R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.According to the decree for Israel,to give thanks to the name of the LORD.In it are set up judgment seats,seats for the house of David.R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 15:4a, 5b R. Alleluia, alleluia.Remain in me, as I remain in you, says the Lord;whoever remains in me will bear much fruit.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 15:1-8 Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."   Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka’i, priest - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 Acts 14:19-28 In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconiumarrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,supposing that he was dead.But when the disciples gathered around him,he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.After they had proclaimed the good news to that cityand made a considerable number of disciples,they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.They strengthened the spirits of the disciplesand exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardshipsto enter the Kingdom of God."They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lordin 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 Godfor the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the Church togetherand reported what God had done with themand how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.Then they spent no little time with the disciples. Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 21 R.(see 12) Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.or:R. Alleluia.Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,and let your faithful ones bless you.Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdomand speak of your might.R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.or:R. Alleluia.Making known to men your mightand the glorious splendor of your kingdom.Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,and your dominion endures through all generations.R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.or:R. Alleluia.May my mouth speak the praise of the LORD,and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.R. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia See Lk 24:46, 26 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead,and so enter into his glory.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Jn 14:27-31a Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."       - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.