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Fifth
Sunday of Easter |
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The New Commandment |
O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so
perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the
life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leadeth to
eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and
reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
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Lesson - Acts 13:44-52 or Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18 |
Paul and Barnabas
The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of
God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy,
and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. And Paul and
Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God
should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge
yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so
the Lord has commanded us, saying, `I have set you to be a light for the
Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the
earth.'" And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the
word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the
word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. But the Jews incited the
devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred
up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their
district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went
to Ico'nium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy
Spirit.
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Ritual and Moral Holiness
And the LORD said to Moses, "Say to all the congregation of the people of
Israel, You shall be holy; for I the LORD your God am holy. "When you reap
the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field to its very border,
neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not
strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your
vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the
LORD your God. "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one
another. And you shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name
of your God: I am the LORD. "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him.
The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the
morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the
blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. "You shall do no
injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the
great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go
up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth
against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. "You shall not hate your
brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you
bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge
against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as
yourself: I am the LORD.
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Epistle - Revelation 19:1,4-9 or Acts 13:44-52 |
The Rejoicing in Heaven
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in
heaven, crying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our
God, And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and
worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And
from the throne came a voice crying, "Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice
of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of
mighty thunderpeals, crying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty
reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of
the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her
to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" -- for the fine linen is the
righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, "Write this:
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And
he said to me, "These are true words of God."
or
Paul and Barnabas
The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of
God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy,
and contradicted what was spoken by Paul, and reviled him. And Paul and
Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God
should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you, and judge
yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so
the Lord has commanded us, saying, `I have set you to be a light for the
Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the
earth.'" And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the
word of God; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the
word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. But the Jews incited the
devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred
up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their
district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and went
to Ico'nium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy
Spirit.
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Gospel - John 13:31-35 |
The New Commandment
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in
him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him
in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I
am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to
you, `Where I am going you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another."
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