|
Sixth Sunday of
Easter |
|
O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass
mans understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we,
loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises,
which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen. |
|
Lesson |
Acts 17:22-31
Paul in Athens
So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op'agus, said: "Men of
Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found
also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore you
worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven
and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he
himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the
earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their
habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him
and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for `In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your
poets have said, `For we are indeed his offspring.' Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like
gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of
man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men
everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in
righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given
assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."
or
Isaiah 41:17-20
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue
is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel
will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of
the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land
springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the
olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine
together; that men may see and know, may consider and understand together, that
the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. |
|
Epistle |
1 Peter 3:8-18
Suffering for Doing Right
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the
brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary
bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. For "He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue
from evil and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue
it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open
to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil." Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make
a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you,
yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who
revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God's
will, than for doing wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the
righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit;
or
Acts 17:22-31
Paul in Athens
So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-op'agus, said: "Men of
Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found
also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore you
worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven
and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he
himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the
earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their
habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him
and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for `In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your
poets have said, `For we are indeed his offspring.' Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like
gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of
man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men
everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in
righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given
assurance to all men by raising him from the dead." |
|
Gospel |
John 15:1-8
Jesus the True Vine
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch
that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers;
and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and
it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to
be my disciples. |
|
