Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Acts 25.13b-21

King Agrippa and Bernice
arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.
As he stayed there many days,
Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying,
“There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;
about whom, when I was at Jerusalem,
the chief priests and the elders of the Jews
informed me, asking for a judgment against him.
To whom I answered that
it is not the custom of the Romans
to give up any human to destruction,
before the accused
has met the accusers face to face,
and has had opportunity
to make their defense
concerning the matter laid against them.
When therefore they had come together here,
I did not delay but on the next day
sat on the judgment seat,
and commanded the man to be brought.
Concerning him, when the accusers stood up,
they brought no charge of
such wrongs as I supposed;
but had certain questions against him
about their own religion,
and about one Jesus, who was dead,
whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Being perplexed how to inquire
concerning these things,
I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem
and there be judged concerning these matters.
But when Paul had appealed
to be kept for the decision of the emperor,
I commanded him to be kept
until I could send him to Caesar.”

Responsorial – Psalm 103.1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab Resp. 19a

R. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens. or R. Alleluia!

Praise the Lord, my soul!
All that is within me, praise his holy name!
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

R. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens. or R. Alleluia!

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

R. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens. or R. Alleluia!

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens.
His kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels,
who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word.

R. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens. or R. Alleluia!

Gospel – John 21.15-19

After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples,
when they had eaten their breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John,
do you love me more than these?”
He said to him,
“Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him again a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
He said to him,
“Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of John,
do you have affection for me?”
Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time,
“Do you have affection for me?”
He said to him, “Lord, you know everything.
You know that I have affection for you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I tell you,
when you were young,
you dressed yourself
and walked where you wanted to.
But when you are old,
you will stretch out your hands,
and another will dress you
and carry you where you do not want to go.”
Now he said this signifying
by what kind of death he would glorify God.
When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”