Saturday of the Third Week of Easter (April 16, 2016)

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/acts/9:31 ACTS 9:31-42 The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samariawas at peace.She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.As Peter was passing through every region,he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.There he found a man named Aeneas,who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.”He got up at once.And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him,and they turned to the Lord.Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha(which translated is Dorcas).She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.Now during those days she fell sick and died,so after washing her, they laid her out in a room upstairs.Since Lydda was near Joppa,the disciples, hearing that Peter was there,sent two men to him with the request, Please come to us without delay.”So Peter got up and went with them.When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairswhere all the widows came to him weepingand showing him the tunics and cloaksthat Dorcas had made while she was with them.Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed.Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up.”She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.He gave her his hand and raised her up,and when he had called the holy ones and the widows,he presented her alive.This became known all over Joppa,and many came to believe in the Lord. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/116:12 PS 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17 R. (12)How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? orand R.Alleluia. How shall I make a return to the LORDfor all the good he has done for me?The cup of salvation I will take up,and I will call upon the name of the LORD R.How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? orand R.Alleluia. My vows to the LORD I will payin the presence of all his people.Precious in the eyes of the LORDis the death of his faithful ones. R.How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? orand R.Alleluia. O LORD, I am your servantI am your servant, the son of your handmaidyou have loosed my bonds.To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,and I will call upon the name of the LORD. R.How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? orand R.Alleluia. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/john/6and63 SEE JN 6and63C, 68C R.Alleluia, alleluia.Your words, Lord, are Spirit and lifeyou have the words of everlasting life.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/john/6and60 JN 6and60-69 Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, This saying is hard who can accept it?”Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,he said to them, Does this shock you?What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.But there are some of you who do not believe.”Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believeand the one who would betray him.And he said, For this reason I have told you that no one can come to meunless it is granted him by my Father.”As a result of this,many of his disciples returned to their former way of lifeand no longer walked with him.Jesus then said to the Twelve, Do you also want to leave?”Simon Peter answered him, Master, to whom shall we go?You have the words of eternal life.We have come to believeand are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”