Thursday of The 5th Week of Easter, 14 May 2020

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

Opening:

Lord God, you chose Saint Matthias by lot to complete the number of the twelve apostles. Include us among your chosen ones, since we rejoice to see that the lot marked out for us is your love. 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.

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,
so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 (NLT)

During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
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Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’

“So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Responsorial Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (NLT)

+ Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.

Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
For the Lord is high above the nations;
his glory is higher than the heavens.

+ Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.

Who can be compared with the Lord our God,
who is enthroned on high?
He stoops to look down
on heaven and on earth.

+ Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.

He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
even the princes of his own people!

+ Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.

From the Rising of the Sun (Psalm 113) – Sandra McCracken

Hallelujah, give praise, you servants
Praise the name of the LORD
Let the name of the LORD be blessed
from now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun, to it’s going down
Let the name of the LORD be praised, from the rising of the sun.

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens,
Who is like the LORD our God? Who sits enthroned on high?
Who is like the LORD our God? Who stoops to behold,
The heavens and the earth?

From the rising of the sun, to it’s going down
Let the name of the LORD be praised, from the rising of the sun.

A Reading from the Gospels: John 15:9-17 (NLT)

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Friend of God – by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

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Closing: John 15:16 (NLT)

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,
so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

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