This Sunday's Readings

Church of the Sacred Heart

5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER

17 & 18 MAY 2025

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.           14:21-27

They gave an account to the church of all that God had done with them

Paul and Barnabas went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.

    They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.

    On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans.

The word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

R.  I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,

    slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all,

    compassionate to all his creatures.

R.  I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,

    and your friends shall repeat their blessing.

They shall speak of the glory of your reign

    and declare your might, O God,

to make known to men your mighty deeds

    and the glorious splendour of your reign.

R.  I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.

Yours is an everlasting kingdom;

    your rule lasts from age to age.

R.  I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.

Second Reading 

A reading from the book of the Apocalypse.         21:1-5

A vision of the heavenly Jerusalem, the bride of the Lamb

I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, ‘You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God; his name is God-with-them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness. The world of the past has gone.’

    Then the One sitting on the throne spoke: ‘Now I am making the whole of creation new.’

The word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus Said: “I give you a new commandment:

love one another just as I have loved you.”

Alleluia!

Gospel 

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.      13:31-35

Response: Glory to you, O Lord

I give you a new commandment: love one another

When Judas had gone Jesus said:

‘Now has the Son of Man been glorified,

and in him God has been glorified.

If God has been glorified in him,

God will in turn glorify him in himself,

and will glorify him very soon.

‘My little children,

I shall not be with you much longer.

I give you a new commandment:

love one another;

just as I have loved you,

you also must love one another.

By this love you have for one another,

everyone will know that you are my disciples.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer Of The Faithful

Introduction: In Jesus, God commands us to love as He does. With faith in our God, let us humbly bring our prayers to Him who knows and hears our needs and ask Him for graces to love.

Response: Lord, hear our prayer.

1. For our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that he may be strengthened as he embarks on his ministry of unity, love, and peace. Let us pray to the Lord.

2. For our Church, that Pope Leo XIV, together with the bishops of the Church and all lay, religious and clergy who work for the Church, may build up the Body of Christ to witness to the world the Good News that God loves and saves all peoples. Let us pray to the Lord.

3. For all who hold public office, that they be guided by the spirit of love to work earnestly for peace and justice for their people and nations. Let us pray to the Lord.

4. For all those in need, that they receive God’s love through the care of all who imitate Jesus in his manner of reaching out to the poor and the needy with mercy and compassion. Let us pray to the Lord.

5. For families in our parish community, that the seeds of kindness, love, respect and mutual understanding be sown in our homes, so that we grow to be more like Jesus who served and cared for everyone with selfless love.  Let us pray to the Lord.

6. We now pray in silence for other needs and intentions …

For these and other needs and intentions, let us pray to the Lord.

Conclusion: God our Father, increase our love for one another. Hear our prayers and in your compassion grant our requests. We make this prayer through Christ our Risen Lord.

Amen.