Saturday Morning – First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles:

Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra
where there was a disciple named Timothy,
the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,
but his father was a Greek.
The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,
and Paul wanted him to come along with him.
On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised,
for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
As they traveled from city to city,
they handed on to the people for observance the decisions
reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.
Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith
and increased in number.

They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory
because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the message in the province of Asia.
When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia,
but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,
so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision.
A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words,
“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
When he had seen the vision,
we sought passage to Macedonia at once,
concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.

The Word of the Lord

 

Saturday Morning – Gospel Reading

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.
Remember the word I spoke to you,
‘No slave is greater than his master.’
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
And they will do all these things to you on account of my name,
because they do not know the one who sent me.”

The Gospel of the Lord

 

Saturday Afternoon – First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles:

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders
about this question.

The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church,
decided to choose representatives
and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas,
and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:

“The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
of Gentile origin: greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our number
who went out without any mandate from us
have upset you with their teachings
and disturbed your peace of mind,
we have with one accord decided to choose representatives
and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending Judas and Silas
who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us
not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols,
from blood, from meats of strangled animals,
and from unlawful marriage.
If you keep free of these,
you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”

The Word of the Lord

 

Saturday Afternoon – Second Reading

A reading from the Book of Revelations:

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
It had a massive, high wall,
with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed
and on which names were inscribed,
the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.
There were three gates facing east,
three north, three south, and three west.
The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,
on which were inscribed the twelve names
of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I saw no temple in the city
for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.
The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,
for the glory of God gave it light,
and its lamp was the Lamb.

The Word of the Lord

 

Saturday Afternoon – Gospel Reading

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.”

The Gospel of the Lord

 

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS (Saturday Morning)

For the Holy Catholic Church throughout the world: for Francis our pope, our bishops, and for all ministers of the gospel, we pray to the Lord:
We pray to the Lord …

For all victims of violence and terrorism around the world, and for their families, that they may find comfort and peace:
We pray to the Lord…

For the safety of our service men and women abroad, for civil servants who protect us and keep us safe, and for all who live with war and violence:
We pray to the Lord…

That we may build a Culture of Life which welcomes the born and unborn, the stranger and neighbor, and the saint and sinner,
We pray to the Lord …

For those who are sick, suffering, homeless, or struggling with any hardship, that they would find healing and comfort, we pray to the Lord:
We pray to the Lord…

For our faithful departed, family members and friends that they may enter the radiant glory of God and worship Jesus, the Lamb of God.
We pray to the Lord …

 

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS (Saturday Afternoon)

For the Holy Catholic Church throughout the world: for Francis our pope, our bishops, and for all ministers of the gospel, we pray to the Lord:
We pray to the Lord …

For the people of the United States, that we may be united in building a society in which everyone can have the opportunity to live with dignity and hope,
We pray to the Lord …

For the members of the Knights of Columbus, that we may find ways to help build a world of greater respect for human life and human dignity,
We pray to the Lord …

For orphaned children throughout the world, and especially those who are abused or neglected: that we might work to save them;
We pray to the Lord …

For the children of our country, especially those who are forgotten or neglected:
that their presence might remind us of the infinite value of human life;
We pray to the Lord …

That we may build a Culture of Life which welcomes the born and unborn, the stranger and neighbor, and the saint and sinner,
We pray to the Lord …

We pray for our faithful departed, family members and friends that they may enter the radiant glory of God and worship Jesus, the Lamb of God.
We pray to the Lord …