Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Acts 20.28-38

At Miletus, Paul spoke to
the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
Closely hold yourselves
and all the flock,
of which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers,
to shepherd the Church of God
which he purchased with his own blood.

I know that after my departure,
vicious wolves will come among you,
not sparing the flock.
And out from you yourselves,
there will arise men
speaking contortions,
to tear away the disciples after them.
Therefore stay awake,
remembering that
for a period of three years
I did not cease to admonish everyone
night and day with tears.

Now, I entrust you to God,
and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build up,
and to give you the inheritance
among all those who are sanctified.
I did not covet anyone’s
silver, or gold, or clothing.
You yourselves know that
these hands served my necessities,
and those who were with me.
In all things I gave you an example,
that so laboring you ought to help the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
that he himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When he had spoken these things,
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They all wept loudly,
and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
sorrowing most of all
because of the word which he had spoken,
that they should see his face no more.
And they accompanied him to the ship.

Responsorial – Psalm 68.29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab Resp. 33a

R. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! or R. Alleluia!

Your God has commanded your strength.
Strengthen, God, that which you have done for us.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem,
kings shall bring presents to you.

R. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! or R. Alleluia!

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth!
Sing praises to the Lord!
To him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which are of old;
behold, he utters his voice, a mighty voice.
Ascribe strength to God!

R. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! or R. Alleluia!

His excellency is over Israel,
his strength is in the skies.
You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries, O God of Israel.
He gives strength and power to his people.

R. Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth! or R. Alleluia!

Gospel – John 17.11b-19

Jesus, lifting up his eyes to heaven, said,
“Holy Father,
keep them in your name
which you have given me,
that they may be one,
even as we are one.
While I was with them in the world,
I kept them in your name,
which you gave me.
I have kept them,
and none of them is lost,
except the son of destruction,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you,
and I say these things in the world,
that they may have my joy
made complete in themselves.
I have given them your word.
The world hated them,
because they are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world.
I pray not that you would
take them from the world,
but that you would keep them
from the evil one.
They are not of the world
even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in your truth.
Your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
even so I have sent them into the world.
For their sakes I sanctify myself,
that they themselves
also may be sanctified in truth.”