Tuesday of The 6th Week of Easter, 19 May 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Lord God, grant your people constant joy in the renewed vigor of our souls. We rejoice because you have restored us to the glory of your adopted children: let us look forward gladly in the certain hope of resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I will send the Holy Spirit to you. He will guide you into all truth..

A Reading from the Gospels: John 16:5-11 (NLT)

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 16:22-34 (NLT)

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
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Responsorial Psalm 138 (NLT)

I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;
will sing your praises before the gods.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.
I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

Every king in all the earth will thank you, Lord,
for all of them will hear your words.
Yes, they will sing about the Lord’s ways,
for the glory of the Lord is very great.
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.

Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.

+ The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
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Psalm 138 – Psalm Project Africa

Closing: John 16:7,13

I will send the Holy Spirit to you. He will guide you into all truth.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.