April 16 , 2024
of the holiday
MASS READINGS
FIRST READING
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:51 – 8:1a)
Reading the book of Acts of the Apostles
In those days,
Stephen said to the people, to the elders and to the scribes:
“You who are stiff-necked,
you whose hearts and ears are closed to the Covenant,
have always resisted the Holy Spirit;
You are just like your fathers!
Is there a prophet whom your fathers did not persecute?
They even killed those who announced in advance the coming of the Righteous One,
the one whom you have now delivered up and murdered.
You who received the law at the command of the angels,
you did not keep it. »
Those who listened to this speech
had their hearts exasperated
and gnashed their teeth against Stephen.
But he, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up into heaven:
he saw the glory of God,
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
He declared:
“Behold, I behold the open heavens
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. »
Then they cried out loudly
and covered their ears.
All together they rushed after him,
dragged him out of the city
and began to stone him.
The witnesses had laid their clothes
at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Stephen, while he was being stoned, prayed thus:
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. »
Then, kneeling down, he cried out in a loud voice:
“Lord, do not count this sin against them. »
And, after these words, he fell asleep in death.
As for Saul, he approved of this murder.
– Word of the Lord.
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