Friday of The 5th Week of Easter, 15 May 2020

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

Opening:

Lord God, grant that the Easter mystery may shape our lives, so that what we celebrate with joy may be our constant defense and salvation. 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.

“This is my commandment:
Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”

A Reading from the Gospels: John 15:12-17 (NLT)

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.
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Responsorial Psalm 57:8-9, 10, 12 (NLT)

+ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

+ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.

My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
I will wake the dawn with my song.

+ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

+ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.
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A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 15:22-31(NLT)

The Letter for Gentile Believers

Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. This is the letter they took with them:

“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!

“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”

The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.
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(Be Exalted O God) – Kimberly Douma

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Closing: John 15:17 (NLT)

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”

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