Wednesday of the 3rd week of Easter

1Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. 2But God-fearing men arranged for Stephen’s funeral, and they made a great mourning over him. 3Then Saul was laying waste to the Church by entering throughout the houses, and dragging away men and women, and committing them to prison. 4Therefore, those who had been dispersed were traveling around, evangelizing the Word of God. 5Now Philip, descending to a city of Samaria, was preaching Christ to them. 6And the crowd was listening intently and with one accord to those things which were being said by Philip, and they were watching the signs which he was accomplishing. 7For many of them had unclean spirits, and, crying out with a loud voice, these departed from them. 8And many of the paralytics and the lame were cured.

1Unto the end. A Canticle Psalm of the Resurrection. Shout joyfully to God, all the earth.

2Proclaim a psalm to his name. Give glory to his praise.

3Exclaim to God, “How terrible are your works, O Lord!” According to the fullness of your virtue, your enemies will speak lies about you.

4Let all the earth adore you and sing psalms to you. May it sing a psalm to your name.

5Draw near and see the works of God, who is terrible in his counsels over the sons of men.

6He converts the sea into dry land. They will cross the river on foot. There, we will rejoice in him.

7He rules by his virtue for eternity. His eyes gaze upon the nations. May those who exasperate him, not be exalted in themselves.

35Then Jesus said to them: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36But I say to you, that even though you have seen me, you do not believe. 37All that the Father gives to me shall come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will not cast out. 38For I descended from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39Yet this is the will of the Father who sent me: that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise them up on the last day. 40So then, this is the will of my Father who sent me: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”