DAILY READINGS & REFLECTION

MAY 7, 2025

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER

FIRST READING

ACTS 8:1-8

1 And Saul was consenting to his death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Sama'ria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to a city of Sama'ria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.

The Word of the Lord
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

PSALMS 65(66):1-7

Response: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Or
R. Alleluia.

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How terrible are thy deeds!
So great is thy power that thy enemies cringe before thee."

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Or
R. Alleluia.

"All the earth worships thee;
they sing praises to thee,
sing praises to thy name.”
Come and see what God has done:
he is terrible in his deeds among men.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Or
R. Alleluia.

He turned the sea into dry land;
men passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
who rules by his might for ever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves.

R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Or
R. Alleluia.
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GOSPEL

I will raise you up at the last day

JOHN 6:35-40

35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

The Gospel of the Lord
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REFLECTION

DAILY QUOTE FROM THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS

Possessing the Scriptures, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"When you understand anything in the Scriptures, it is love that is manifesting itself to you. When you fail to understand, it is love that is hiding itself from you. Those, therefore, who possess charity possess both what is manifest in the divine words and what is hidden in them."

(excerpt from Sermon 350,2)
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Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.