-
FIRST READINGS DURING THE EASTER SEASON:
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36, 42-43
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles:
Peter proceeded to speak, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts
Uprightly is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the children of
Israel as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ,
who is the Lord of all.
He commissioned us to preach to the people
And testify that he is the one appointed by God
As judge of the living and the dead.
To him all the prophets bear witness,
That everyone who believes in him
Will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Word of the Lord.Revelation 14:13
A Reading from the Book of Revelation:
I, John, heard a voice from heaven say,
“Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on”.
“Yes”, said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.”
The Word of the Lord.Revelation 20:11-21:1
A Reading from the Book of Revelation:
I, John, saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence
And there was no place for them.
I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the
Throne, and scrolls were opened.
Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.
The dead were judged according to their deeds,
By what was written in the scrolls.
The sea gave up its dead:
Then Death and Hades gave up their dead.
All the dead were judged according to their deeds.
Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire.
(This pool of fire is the second death.)
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of
Life was thrown into the pool of fire.
Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth.
The former Heaven and the former earth had passed away,
And the sea was no more.
The Word of the Lord.A reading from the Book of Revelation
I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”
The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.”
The Word of the Lord.