Sixth Sunday of Easter, C
Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29
Psalm 67 (SP, “O God Be Merciful,” C. Tye)
Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23
(MA2, “E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come,” P. Manz)
John 14: 23-29

The First Reading (from Acts) recounts what tradition calls “the council of Jerusalem.” Here we see the infant church working to make compromises that will carry the Good News into different situations than the Jewish Christian community of Jerusalem. The Responsorial Psalm is a thanksgiving for harvest in its original setting; in the Easter liturgy, we give thanks for the resurrection of the Lord and sing, “O God, let all the nations praise You!” The Second Reading (from Revelation) gives a picture of the “new Jerusalem” that exists in heaven and, even now, is reflected in the Church on earth: (1) splendor; (2) continuity with Israel; (3) foundation on the apostles. The chief distinction is that, in the earthly church, there is a temple—only in the world to come will there be “no temple, for its temple [will be] the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.” The Gospel continues Jesus’ ‘farewell discourse,’ here telling the disciples that “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” Continuing, Jesus says: “Peace I leave with you; My peace, I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you.” Saint Hilary of Poitiers, says: “We receive the Spirit of truth so that we can know the things of God. In order to grasp this, consider how useless the faculties of the human body would be if denied their exercise. Our eyes cannot work without light; our ears cannot hear without sound vibration; if there is no odor, our noses cannot smell. They would not lose their nature if not used, but would need objects of experience in order to function. It is the same with the soul: unless it absorbs the gift of the Spirit through faith, the mind has the ability to know God but lacks the light necessary for that knowledge.” (De Trinitate, Liber 2)

“If you love Me, keep My word firm;
Then the Father loves you, too,
And We both shall make our dwelling
In your hearts, We promise you.
Peace I give you, peace I leave you—
Not the peace the world shall give—
Do not let your hearts be troubled
In the Spirit, gladly live!”

As we strive to keep Your teachings,
Keep us free from harmful strife
That degrades us and deforms us,
Taking from us Your new life.
Help us always hear Your leading;
Keep us from each harmful way,
That would steal us from Your kingdom
That we seek from day to day.

Advocate! O Holy Spirit,
Sent to us from God on high,
Show us Jesus, our Messiah,
Till in heav’n we make our cry:
“No more temple! God suffices,
And the sun and moon shall cease---
God’s own glory lights our city,
And the Lamb shall be its peace!


The psalms for this week’s Liturgy of the Hours are taken from Week II, using the Easter antiphons. Everything from the reading on is taken from the Proper of the Season. If the Solemnity of the Ascension is observed on Thursday of this week, Evening Prayer of Wednesday will be EP I of the Ascension; all Thursday will be as on Ascension Day, and the Friday and Saturday after Ascension have proper material from the reading on.

Propers from the Roman Gradual

The stunned reaction and triumph of the Jewish Christians in the living room of Cornelius is proclaimed as well in the Introit for today. The Second Reading’s assurance that “this is the love I mean, not our love for God but God’s love for us” is paired with the Offertory’s affirmation that the Lord “has not withheld his mercy” from us. The Communion Antiphon is from the Gospel of the day.

Introit: Vocem jocunditatis (Is. 48:20; Ps. 66:1)
With loud songs of triumph declare this news,
and let it be known, alleluia, alleluia;
cry forth the news unto the ends of the earth:
“The Lord has redeemed his people,” alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Cry out to the Lord, all the earth;
sing a psalm to his Name;
praise him with glorious praise.

Offertory: Benedicite gentes (Ps. 66:7-8, 18)
O bless the Lord our God, all you his people,
and make the voice of his praise to be heard.
It is the Lord who holds our souls in life,
and who will not allow our feet to slip.
Blessed be the Lord our God, who has not rejected the voice of my prayer,
and who has not withheld his mercy from me, alleluia.

Communion: Ego vos elegit (Jn. 15:16)
(matches the Gospel in Year B)
I, the Lord, have chosen you from the world,
that you may go forth and bear much fruit,
and this your fruit shall last always, alleluia.

Propers from the Simple Gradual

Sixth Sunday of Easter can use any of the Easter suite I, BFW 158–166,
or Easter suite II, BFW 167–174.

Entrance: BFW 221 (Let all the earth cry out to you . . . ),
adding the concluding alleluia from BFW p. 378, IV
Response: Alleluia psalm BFW 23
or BFW 160 or BFW 161, or BFW169 or BFW 170
Gospel acclamation BFW 162
Offertory: BFW 154 (Christ, our Paschal Lamb . . . )
Communion: BFW 483 (You did not choose me; I have chosen . . . )