Church of the Sacred Heart
5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER
27 & 28 APRIL 2024
COLLECT
Let us pray.
Almighty ever-living God,
constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us,
that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism
may, under your protective care, bear much fruit
and come to the joys of life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
First Reading
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. 9:26-31
Barnabas explained how the Lord had appeared to Saul on his journey.
When Saul got to Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him: they could not believe he was really a disciple. Barnabas, however, took charge of him, introduced him to the apostles, and explained how the Lord had appeared to Saul and spoken to him on his journey, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. Saul now started to go round with them in Jerusalem, preaching fearlessly in the name of the Lord. But after he had spoken to the Hellenists, and argued with them, they became determined to kill him. When the brothers knew, they took him to Caesarea, and sent him off from there to Tarsus.
The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria were now left in peace, building themselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, and filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
The word of the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
R. You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.
My vows I will pay before those who fear him.
The poor shall eat and shall have their fill.
They shall praise the Lord, those who seek him.
May their hearts live for ever and ever!
R. You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.
All the earth shall remember and return to the Lord,
all families of the nations worship before him;
They shall worship him, all the mighty of the earth;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust.
R. You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.
And my soul shall live for him, my children serve him.
They shall tell of the Lord to generations yet to come,
declare his faithfulness to peoples yet unborn:
‘These things the Lord has done.’
R. You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.
Second Reading
A reading from the first letter of St John. 3:18-24
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.
My children,
our love is not to be just words or mere talk,
but something real and active;
only by this can we be certain
that we are children of the truth
and be able to quieten our conscience in his presence,
whatever accusations it may raise against us,
because God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.
My dear people,
if we cannot be condemned by our own conscience,
we need not be afraid in God’s presence,
and whatever we ask him,
we shall receive,
because we keep his commandments
and live the kind of life that he wants.
His commandments are these:
that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ
and that we love one another
as he told us to.
Whoever keeps his commandments
lives in God and God lives in him.
We know that he lives in us
by the Spirit that he has given us.
The word of the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
Whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty.
Alleluia!
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John. 15:1-8
Response: Glory to you, O Lord
Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruits in plenty.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,
and they are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
you may ask what you will
and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,
and then you will be my disciples.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer Of The Faithful
Introduction: Reminded by today’s readings that abundant life is the inheritance of those who live in obedience and union with Christ, we address our petitions in confidence to God.
Response: Lord Jesus, let us never be separated from you.
1. That the abundant life of Christ’s love may flourish in the Church, and bring unity and hope for the People of God. We pray to the Lord.
2. That the world may know that we are the disciples of Christ by the fruits of love, peace and joy we’re called to bear to everyone. We pray to the Lord.
3. That the Word of God and the power of the Eucharist may strengthen and sustain us to work for peace and justice for the poor and the neglected. We pray to the Lord.
4. That the mercy and compassion of God will prune our sins and make us bear fruits of holiness and faithfulness. We pray to the Lord.
5. We now pray in silence for other needs and intentions …
For these other needs and intentions, we pray to the Lord.
Conclusion: Lord Jesus, You are the true Vine and we are Your branches. May the Word that You have spoken to us deepen and strengthen our faith and trust in You who will answer our prayers and grant us our needs. You who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.