DAILY MASS READINGS

Monday 20 April 2026

Monday of the 3rd week of Eastertide 

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

Readings at Mass

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First reading

Acts 6:8-15

‘They could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.’

In those days: Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never ceases to speak words against this Holy Place and the Law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.’ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

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Responsorial Psalm

Ps 119(118):23-24. 26-27. 29-30. ℟1b

Blessed are those who walk in the law of the LORD!

or: Alleluia.

Though princes sit plotting against me,

your servant ponders your statutes.

See, your decrees are my delight;

your statutes are my counsellors. 

Blessed are those who walk in the law of the LORD!

or: Alleluia.

I declared my ways and you answered me;

teach me your statutes.

Make me grasp the way of your precepts,

and I will ponder your wonders. 

Blessed are those who walk in the law of the LORD!

or: Alleluia.

Keep me from the way of falsehood;

grant me mercy by your law.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

your decrees I have upheld. 

Blessed are those who walk in the law of the LORD!

or: Alleluia.

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Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 4:4b

Alleluia, alleluia.

One does not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Alleluia.

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Gospel

John 6:22-29

‘Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.’

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, the disciples saw him walking on the lake. On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

    When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.’

Sunday 19 April 2026

3rd Sunday of Easter 

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

Readings at Mass

________

First reading

Acts 2:14, 22-33

‘It was not possible for him to be held by death.’

On the day of Pentecost Peter, standing with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst — as you yourselves know — this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

    ‘For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”

    ‘Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you yourselves are seeing and hearing.’

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Responsorial Psalm

Ps 16(15):1-2a, 5. 7-8. 9-10. 11. ℟1

O Lord, you will show me the path of life.

or: Alleluia.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord.’

O LORD, it is you who are my portion and cup;

you yourself who secure my lot. 

O Lord, you will show me the path of life.

or: Alleluia.

I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel,

who even at night directs my heart.

I keep the LORD before me always;

with him at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 

O Lord, you will show me the path of life.

or: Alleluia.

And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;

even my flesh shall rest in hope.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

nor let your holy one see corruption. 

O Lord, you will show me the path of life.

or: Alleluia.

You will show me the path of life,

the fullness of joy in your presence,

at your right hand, bliss for ever. 

O Lord, you will show me the path of life.

or: Alleluia.

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Second reading

1 Peter 1:17-21

‘You were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish.’

Beloved: If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

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Gospel Acclamation

cf. Luke 24:32

Alleluia, alleluia.

Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us;

make our hearts burn within us when you speak to us.

Alleluia.

________

Gospel

Luke 24:13-35

He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

On the first day of the week, two of the disciples of Jesus were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognising him. And he said to them, ‘What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?’ And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’ And he said to them, ‘What things?’ And they said to him, ‘Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.’ And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

    So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognised him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the Eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.