7th Sunday of Easter (Year: A)
Date: Sunday, May 28th, 2017, 11:00
Old Testament: Acts 1:6-14
Psalms: Ps. 68:1-10,32-35
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city.
13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:6-14 (NIV)
Epistle: 1 Peter 4:12-14;5:6-11
1May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
2As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
3But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
4Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds - his name is the LORD - and rejoice before him.
5A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
6God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah
8the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.
32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah
33to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.
34Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies.
35You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Psalms 68:1-10,32-35 (NIV)
Gospel: John 17:1-11
12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:12-14;5:6-11 (NIV)
1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
2"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
6"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.
7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.
8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.
11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:1-11 (NIV)