Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).

First reading	Acts 7:51-8:1a

‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’

In those days: Stephen said to the people and the elders and the scribes, ‘You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.’

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul approved of his execution.

How to listen

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 31(30):3c-4. 6ab, 7b, 8a. 17, 21ab. ℟6a

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or: Alleluia.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a mighty stronghold to save me.

For you are my rock, my stronghold!

Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or: Alleluia.

Into your hands I commend my spirit.

You will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God.

As for me, I trust in the Lord.

Let me be glad and rejoice in your mercy.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or: Alleluia.

Let your face shine on your servant.

Save me in your merciful love.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence,

secure from human scheming.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

or: Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation	John 6:35ab

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the bread of life, says the Lord;

whoever comes to me shall not hunger.

Alleluia.

Gospel	John 6:30-35

‘It was not Moses but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.’

At that time: The crowd said to Jesus, ‘Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’ Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’

You can also view this page with the New Testament in Greek and English.

Christian Art

Each day, The Christian Art website gives a picture and reflection on the Gospel of the day.

The readings on this page are from the English Standard Version, which is used at Mass in Great Britain. The Jerusalem Bible (which is used at Mass in much of the English-speaking world) will appear instead if you set this page to use a calendar from outside Great Britain. The New American Bible readings, which are used at Mass in the United States, are available in the Universalis apps, programs and downloads.