[Propertalk] READINGS for the SEVENTH SUNDAY of EASTER

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, June 1, 
according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, 
Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All 
readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the 
Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries 
are identical to the RCL for this day.



FIRST READING: Acts 1: 6 - 14 (RCL)
                                Acts 1: 12 - 14 (Roman Catholic)

Acts 1:1 (NRSV) In the first book, Theoph'ilus, I wrote about all that Jesus 
did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to 
heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles 
whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them 
by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking 
about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to 
leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he 
said, "is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but 
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time 
when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for 
you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own 
authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon 
you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, 
and to the ends of the earth." 9 When he had said this, as they were 
watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 
While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men 
in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you 
stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you 
into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Ol'ivet, which is 
near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. 13 When they had entered the 
city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and 
John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, 
James son of Alphae'us, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All 
these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain 
women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.


Ezekiel 36: 24 - 28 (alt. for C of E)

Ezek 36:24 (NRSV) I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all 
the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean 
water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from 
all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will give you, and a new 
spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of 
stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and 
make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28 Then 
you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be 
my people, and I will be your God.


PSALM 68: 1 - 10, 32 - 35   (RCL)

Psal 68:1 (NRSV) Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered;
let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful;
let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds -- 
his name is the LORD-- 
be exultant before him.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, [Se'lah]
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad;
you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord, [Se'lah]
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel;
and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary,
the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!


Psalm 27: 1, 4, 7 - 8 (Roman Catholic)

Psal 27:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

4 One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, do I seek.



SECOND READING: 1 Peter 4: 12 - 14, 5: 6 - 11 (RCL)
                                      1 Peter 4: 13 - 16 (Roman Catholic)

1Pet 4:12 (NRSV) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is 
taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were 
happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's 
sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is 
revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, 
because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as 
a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not 
consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.

5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may 
exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for 
you. 8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. {Or [be vigilant]} Like a roaring 
lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 
9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and 
sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10 And 
after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has 
called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, 
strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. 
Amen.

Note: If one of the Old Testament alternatives is used for the first 
reading, the Acts reading should be used instead here.


GOSPEL: John 17: 1 - 11 (all)

John 17:1 (NRSV) After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven 
and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may 
glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give 
eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, 
that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have 
sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to 
do. 5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I 
had in your presence before the world existed.
6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. 
They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 
Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words 
that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and 
know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 
9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but 
on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are 
yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I 
am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to 
you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that 
they may be one, as we are one.

Note: The Roman Catholic lectionary omits the second part of v. 11.



Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, Mass. USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu