Readings for the Season of Easter, Year B

Sixth Sunday of Easter - John 15.9-17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Sixth Sunday of Easter, First Reading - Acts 10.44-48

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Sixth Sunday of Easter - Psalm 98

O sing to the Lord a new song:

for he has done marvellous things;

His right hand and his holy arm:

they have got him the victory.

The Lord has made known his salvation:

he has revealed his just deliverance

in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness

towards the house of Israel:

and all the ends of the earth

have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth:

break into singing and make melody.

Make melody to the Lord upon the harp:

upon the harp and with the sounds of praise.

With trumpets and with horns:

cry out in triumph before the Lord, the king.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it:

the good earth and those who live upon it.

Let the rivers clap their hands:

and let the mountains ring out together before the Lord;

For he comes to judge the earth:

he shall judge the world with righteousness,

and the peoples with equity.

Sixth Sunday of Easter - Second Reading - 1 John 5.1-12

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.