First
Reading
A reading from the book of Genesis, 12:1-4
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and
your kindred and your father’s house to the land that
I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you, and make your name great, so
that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who
bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and
by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.’
So Abram went, as the Lord has told him.
This is the word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
R The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall
want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me
repose.
Near restful water he leads me, to revive my drooping
spirit. R
He guides me along the right path; he is true to
his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil
would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; with
these you give me comfort. R
You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of
my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing.
R
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all
the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and
ever. R
Second Reading
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
11:1-2.8-10.13-16
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of
old received divine approval. By faith Abraham obeyed
when he was called to go out to a place which he was
to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not
knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned
in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living
in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him to the
same promise. For he looked forward to the city, which
has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
These all died in faith, not having received what
was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from
afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers
and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus
make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If
they had been thinking of that land from which they
had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is,
a heavenly one.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Do not labour for the food which perishes,
but for the food which endures to eternal life,
which the Son of man will give to you.
Alleluia!
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according
to John 6:44-51
Jesus said: ‘No one can come to me unless the Father
who sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the
last day. It is written in the prophets, “and they
shall all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard
and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that
anyone has seen the father except him who is from
God; he has seen the father.
‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has
eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers
ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This
is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a
man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread
which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this
bread, he will live forever.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord
First Reading
A reading from the prophet Isaiah 35:3-6.
10
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble
knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be
strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with
vengeance, with recompense of God. He will come and
save you.’
Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the
ears of the deaf unstopped; then will the lame man
leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing
for joy.
And the ransomed of the Lord will return, and come
to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon
their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and
sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This is the word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
R O Lord, you search
me and you know me.
O where can I go from your spirit, or where can I
flee from your face?
If I climb the heavens, you are there, If I lie in
the grave, you are there. R
If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell at the
sea’s furthest end,
even there your hand would lead me, your right hand
would hold me fast. R
If I say: ‘Let the darkness hide me and the light
around me be night,’
even darkness is not dark for you and the night is
as clear as the day. R
O search me, God, and know my heart. O test me and
know my thoughts.
See that I follow not the wrong path and lead me in
the path of life eternal. R
Second Reading
A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the
Corinthians 15:51-57
Lo! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and
we shall be changed.
For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable,
and this mortal nature must put on immortality. When
the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal
puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying
that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy
sting?’
The sting of death is in sin, and the power of sin
is in the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Was it not necessary that the Christ
should suffer these things and enter into his glory?
Alleluia!
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according
to Luke 24:13-17. 19-31
That very day (Easter Day) two of Jesus’ disciples
were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven
miles from Jerusalem, and talking about these things
that had happened. While they were talking, Jesus
himself drew near. But their eyes were kept from recognising
him. And he said to them, ‘What is this conversation
which you are holding as you walk?’ And they stood
still, looking sad.
Then they said to him, ‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God
and all the people, and how our chief priests and
rulers delivered him up and crucified him. But we
had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. It
is now the third day since this happened. Moreover,
some women of our company amazed us. They were at
the tomb early in the morning and did not find his
body; and they came back saying that they had even
seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.’
And he said to them, ‘O foolish men, and slow of
heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer
these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning
with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to
them in all scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were
going. He appeared to be going further, but they said,
‘Stay with us, for the day is far spent.’ So he went
in to stay with them. When he was at table with them,
he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave
it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised
him: and he vanished out of their sight.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
First Reading
A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.11
For everything there is a season, and a time for
every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones
together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to rend; and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
God has made everything beautiful in its time.
This is the word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
R Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when the reap
When the Lord delivered Sion from bondage, it seemed
like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips
there were songs. R
The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord
worked for them!
What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were
glad. R
Deliver us, O Lord from our bondage as streams in
dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they
reap. R
They go out; they go out, full of tears, carrying
seed for the sowing:
They come back, they come back, full of song, carrying
their sheaves. R
Second Reading
A reading from the Letter of St Paul to the
Galatians 6:7-10
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever
a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows
to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption;
but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit
reap eternal life.
And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in
due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to
all men, and especially to those who are of the household
of faith.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my word will not pass away,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according
to Matthew 13:4-9
Jesus spoke this parable to the people:
‘A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some
seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and
devoured them.
‘Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had
not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since
they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they
were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered
away.
‘Other seeds fell upon the thorns, and the thorns
grew up and choked them.
‘Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth
grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
He who has ears, let him hear.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord
