First reading Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

‘They laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.’

In those days: Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

  Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

The word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm Ps 66(65):1-3a. 4-5. 6-7a. 16, 20. ℟1

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

or: Alleluia.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth;

O sing to the glory of his name.

O render him glorious praise.

Say to God, ‘How wondrous your deeds!’

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

or: Alleluia.

‘Before you all the earth shall bow down,

shall sing to you, sing to your name!’

Come and see the works of God:

his wondrous deeds among the children of Adam. 

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

or: Alleluia.

He turned the sea into dry land;

they passed through the river on foot.

Let our joy, then, be in him;

he rules for ever by his might. 

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

or: Alleluia.

Come and hear, all who fear God;

I will tell what he did for my soul.

Blest be God, who did not reject my prayer,

nor withhold from me his merciful love. 

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

or: Alleluia.

Second reading 1 Peter 3:15-18

‘Being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.’

Beloved: In your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.

The word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation John 14:23

Alleluia, alleluia.

If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, says the Lord,

and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.

Alleluia.