Tag: USCCB Daily Readings

6th Sunday of Easter – 06 May – John 15:9-17 ~ love one another as I have loved you

The Sixth Sunday of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

God of all nations, in the gift of your Son you have embraced the world with a love that takes away our sin and bestows perfect joy. Grant to all who have life in Christ fidelity in serving you and generosity in loving one another. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you now and always in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“The Love of God” – Abigail Miller

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Gospel Reading: 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.
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Prayers of Intercession:

Ever-Loving God, listen to the prayers of your children –

+ For all believers, that we may be known by our love for one another….
+ For all believers, that we may care for our neighbors, especially those who are sick and needy….
+ For all people of good will, that we may look after those who are destitute and dislocated….
+ For all who seek the truth, that the Spirit may help them find it in Jesus – the Way, the Truth, and the Life….
+ For all young believers, that the Spirit may empower them to make good decisions and live out their faith….
+ For all who suffer in mind, body, or spirit that believing friends may demonstrate your love for them….
+ For all believers whose sufferings are over, that they may experience eternal life and love in your presence….

Ever-loving God, we sing a song of praise to your name, for you have worked wonders: continue to guide your people, and hear our prayers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Reckless Love” – Cory Asbury


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Blessing – Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

5th Sunday of Easter – 29 Apr – John 15:1-8 ~ remain in me

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

O God, you graft us into your Son, Jesus Christ the true vine, and, with tireless care, you nurture our growth in knowledge and reverence. Tend your vineyard, that in Christ each branch may bring forth abundant fruits of faith and love to the glory of your name. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“All Things Rise” – Vineyard Worship


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Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8 (NLT)

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
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Prayers of Intercession:

Gracious God, our creator and sustainer: we praise you for all the wonders you have made. Continue your good work among us and hear our prayers –

+ For all believers in Christ,  that we may never be separated from him, the true vine….
+ For all who receive communion, that we may be regularly nourished at your Table….
+ For all who persecute believers and mistreat them, that they may change their ways….
+ For a growing respect for the life of every human person, reflected in our laws….
+ For good weather and an abundant harvest for all who diligently work the land….
+ For students and teachers facing year-end exams, that results may fairly reflect ability….
+ For all whose journey in faith is over, that they may live forever in the Father’s house….

Glorious God, our creator and sustainer, we praise you for your mighty deeds: hear our prayers that we may bear much good fruit to the glory of your name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“My Life is in Your Hands” – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir


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Blessing – 1 John 3:23-24 (NLT)

“And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.”
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

4th Sunday of Easter – 22 Apr – John 10:11-18 ~ The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

God of everlasting love, fulfill your plan of salvation to gather into one fold the peoples of the whole world. Let everyone on earth recognize your Son, Jesus Christ, as the Good Shepherd – who freely lays down his life for all to take it up again in power. Grant this through Christ our Savior, the resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Shepherd of Love” – George Beverly Shea


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Gospel Reading: John 10:11-18 (NLT)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
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Prayers of Intercession:

Gracious God: Your loving-kindness is endless. Hear our prayers for our needs and the needs of the whole world –

+ For all who serve your people, that they may follow the example of Christ, the good shepherd.…
+ For all your people, that we may love each other with tenderness and forgiveness.…
+ For all your young people around the world, that they may consider serving your people.…
+ For all your caring professionals, that the your compassion may be visible in them….
+ For all your people who work the land, that they may respect your creation….
+ For all who call your name in their sufferings, that they may experience your healing power….
+ For all who have gone before us in faith, that they may see you, face to face….

God of beauty and compassion: You love us as a shepherd loves all the flock: continue to support your people with your grace and mercy, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Good Shepherd (Lead On) – David Ruis


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Blessing – 1 John 2:1-2 (NLT)

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! …But he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

3rd Sunday of Easter – 15 Apr – Luke 24:35-48 ~ disbelief, joy and wonder

The Third Sunday of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

God of life, in your risen Son you reveal your abiding presence among us and summon us to lives of worship and service. Fill us with thanksgiving and praise as we approach you in prayer. Grant us courage and joy in bearing witness before the world to your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you now and always in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Open Up the Heavens” – Meredith Andrews


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Gospel Reading: Luke 24:35-48 (NLT)

Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.

Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.
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Prayers of Intercession:

God our Savior: Rescue us from all our distress; we ask especially –

+ That believers everywhere who suffer for their faith may have courage and perseverance…. Lord, hear us.
+ That missionaries everywhere may have the conviction and enthusiasm of the early disciples…. Lord, hear us.
+ That fishermen and all who work on the sea may receive your protection…. Lord, hear us.
+ That farmers may receive just reward for their investment of time and energy…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who prepare and serve food may themselves receive your sustenance…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the vision of heaven given in the Scriptures may inspire the sick and comfort the dying…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who have died in Christ may join those gathered around the heavenly throne…. Lord, hear us.

Gracious God: Have mercy on your people and guide us all the days of our life, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“All Things New” – Elevation Worship


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Blessing – Revelation 21:3-4 (NLT)

“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

2nd Sunday of Easter – 08 Apr – John 20:19-31 ~ sent with the Good News of life

The Second Sunday of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

God of life, source of all faith, through the waters of baptism you have raised us up in Jesus and given us life that endures. Day by day refine our faith, that we who have not seen the Christ may truly confess him as our Lord and God and share the blessedness of those who believe. Grant this through Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery” – Matt Papa


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Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31 (NLT)

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
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Prayers of Intercession:

God of endless love, we give you our thanks and present our petitions before your throne of grace –

+ That believers everywhere may set aside our differences and be one in you…. Lord, hear us.
+ That church leaders everywhere may lead the way in unity, grace and peace…. Lord, hear us.
+ That believers everywhere may live full lives through the power of Jesus…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who doubt may be convinced by the love and unity of believers…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all divisions within and without our faith communities may be overcome…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who are destitute may experience our friendship and practical care…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who have died in Christ may share his glorious victory over death…. Lord, hear us.

God our strength, the resurrection of Jesus renews our hope: consider our petitions and help us, we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“I Will Rise” -Chris Tomlin


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Blessing

May the God who has redeemed you and made you adopted children through the resurrection of his only Son bless you and fill you with joy; and may he lead you to your home in heaven.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!