Parish of Our Lady & Saint David, Cwmbran

The Word This Week

As Eastertide unfolds, we feel the power and influence of the Spirit growing. This is the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, and the Spirit who brings the Church to birth at Pentecost. As we journey towards Pentecost – the climax of the Easter Season – we should be considering the presence of the Spirit in the Church today: the reconciler of disputes, the solver of problems, true inspiration for the family of God on our journey to the New Jerusalem! From this side, Pentecost is about promise: the Lord at the Last Supper promises that He and the Father will be “at home” with all who keep his words – and it is the Advocate, the Holy Spirit who will remind us of these and all his words. We believe that all Scripture is “inspired” – the word of the Spirit – so as we listen or proclaim this Sunday let us look for the fulfilment of the promise made by the Lord.

First Reading: Acts 15:1-2,22-29

Responsorial Psalm: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.

Second Reading: Apocalypse 21:10-14.22-23

Gospel: John 14:23-29

The Word This Week

We are now closer to Ascension and Pentecost than Easter, but we are still in the Easter Season. The readings this Sunday begin to move us along too, as once more we hear the Lord at the Last Supper preparing his disciples for his departure: he does this by giving them a rule to live by, a new commandment. This commandment, “love one another”, is to be the guiding light of the community of believers after Pentecost (check the first reading for the Second Sunday of Easter) – it is the risen Lord’s parting gift to his Church.

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27

Response Psalm 144: I will bless your name for ever, O God my King

Second Reading: Apocalypse 21:1-5

Gospel: John 13: 31-35

“I give eternal life to the sheep that belong to me”

The Word This Week

This is traditionally known as “Good Shepherd” Sunday, and is part of the continuing journey of Easter – remember that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who both gives his life for his sheep and takes it up again. His relationship with us, after the resurrection, is closer than we can imagine: through his dying and rising, Jesus fulfills the promise he makes in today’s Gospel: “I give them eternal life, and they will never be lost.” This Sunday is another opportunity for us to consider the consequences of the Resurrection – how we live the Easter Story.

First Reading: Acts 13:14.43-52

Response to the psalm: We are his people, the sheep of his flock

Second Reading: Apocalypse 7:9.14-17

Gospel: John 10:27-30

“Jesus stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them,
and the same with the fish.

 First Reading: Acts 5:27-32.40-41 

 Second Reading: Apocalypse 5:11-14

 Responsorial Psalm: I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

 Gospel Reading: John 21: 1-19

Welcome to the Parish of Our Lady and St David, Cwmbran