The 2nd of May, 2021 is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2021 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: ACTS 9:26-31
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
He was with them entering into Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.
When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 22:25-26, 27, 29, 30-31
Response: My praise of you comes in the great assembly.
My praise of you comes in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever.
R: My praise of you comes in the great assembly.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to Yahweh. All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
R: My praise of you comes in the great assembly.
All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him, even he who can’t keep his soul alive.
R: My praise of you comes in the great assembly.
Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born, for he has done it.
R: My praise of you comes in the great assembly.
Reading 2: 1 JN 3:18-24
The second reading from the Letter of John.
My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.
And by this we know that we are of the truth and persuade our hearts before him, because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; so whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.
He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
Gospel of the Day: JN 15:1-8
From the gospel scripture according to John.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.
Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.
I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.”
“In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.”
