Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Acts 15.1-6

Some who came down from Judea
taught the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised
after the custom of Moses,
you cannot be saved.”
So when Paul and Barnabas
had no small discord and discussion with them,
they appointed Paul and Barnabas,
and some others of them,
to go up to Jerusalem
to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.

They, being sent on their way by the Church,
passed through Phoenicia and Samaria,
announcing the conversion of the Gentiles.
They caused great joy to all the brothers.

When they had come to Jerusalem,
they were received by the Church
and the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported all things
that God had done with them.
But some of the sect of
the Pharisees who believed
rose up, saying,
“It is necessary to circumcise them
and to command them
to keep the law of Moses.”

The Apostles and the presbyters
gathered together to see about this matter.

Responsorial – Psalm 122.1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 Resp. 1

R. Let us gladly go to the house of the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
Our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

R. Let us gladly go to the house of the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

Jerusalem is built as a city
that is compact together.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.

R. Let us gladly go to the house of the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

According to the covenant of Israel,
to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.
For there are set thrones of judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.

R. Let us gladly go to the house of the Lord. or R. Alleluia!

Gospel – John 15.1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine,
and my Father is the farmer.
Every branch in me
that does not bear fruit,
he takes away.
Every branch that bears fruit,
he prunes,
so that it may bear more fruit.

You are already pruned
because of the word
which I have spoken to you.
Remain on me, as I remain on you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you,
unless you remain on me.

I am the vine. You are the branches.
They who remain on me, and I on them,
bear much fruit,
for apart from me
you can do nothing.

If someone does not remain on me,
they are thrown out as a branch and wither,
and they gather them,
throw them into the fire,
and they are burned.
If you remain on me,
and my words remain on you,
you will ask whatever you desire,
and it will be done for you.

In this is my Father glorified:
that you bear much fruit;
and so you will be my disciples.”