Fifth Sunday in Easter - B - April 28, 2024

26 After Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the other followers of Jesus. But they were afraid of him. They didn't believe he was a real follower. 27 So, Barnabas decided to help him. He took Saul to the Apostles and told them, "Saul was on his way to Damascus when he saw the Lord! Jesus spoke to Saul. As a result, Saul talked about Jesus to everyone he met at Damascus."

28 Saul moved freely about Jerusalem and spoke about Jesus with a bold attitude. 29 He preached to the Greek-speaking Jews and even had debates with them. But they planned to kill Saul. 30 When the followers recognized the plot, they took Saul down to Caesarea and sent him back to Tarsus.

31 Then, the Church grew throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. It enjoyed a time of peace. It lived in a deep reverence for God. The Holy Spirit gave comfort to the Church. And many more people joined.

26 Having arrived in Jerusalem, (Saul) was attempting to join the disciples, but all were afraid, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, having taken him in (to help him), brought him to the Apostles and told them how, on the way, he saw the Lord and that HE spoke to him, and how in Damascus he spoke boldly in the name of JESUS. 28 He was going in and out of (their company) in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the LORD; 29 he was both addressing and arguing with the Greeks, but they were attempting to kill him. 30 Recognizing (this fact), the brothers brought him down to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.

31 So, the Church being built up through the entire (area) of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace; walking in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Spirit, (the Church) was multiplied (in number).

For the Chief Musician; set to "The Doe of the Morning." A Psalm by David.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?
2 My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don't answer;
in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But you are holy,
you who inhabit the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in you.
They trusted, and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you, and were delivered.
They trusted in you, and were not disappointed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man;
a reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see me mock me.
They insult me with their lips. They shake their heads, saying,
8 "He trusts in YHWH;
let him deliver him.
Let him rescue him, since he delights in him."
9 But you brought me out of the womb.
You made me trust at my mother's breasts.
10 I was thrown on you from my mother's womb.
You are my God since my mother bore me.
11 Don't be far from me, for trouble is near.
For there is none to help.

12 Many bulls have surrounded me.
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open their mouths wide against me,
lions tearing prey and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water.
All my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax;
it is melted within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me.
A company of evildoers have enclosed me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all of my bones.
They look and stare at me.
18 They divide my garments among them.
They cast lots for my clothing.
19 But don't be far off, YHWH.
You are my help: hurry to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion's mouth!
Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen, you have answered me.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers.
In the midst of the assembly, I will praise you.
23 You who fear YHWH, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him!
Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted,
Neither has he hidden his face from him;
but when he cried to him, he heard.
25 Of you comes my praise in the great assembly.
I will pay my vows before those who fear him.
26 The humble shall eat and be satisfied.
They shall praise YHWH who seek after him.
Let your hearts live forever.

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to YHWH.
All the relatives of the nations shall worship before you.
28 For the kingdom is YHWH's.
He is the ruler over the nations.
29 All the rich ones of the earth shall eat and worship.
All those who go down to the dust shall bow before him,
even he who can't keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity shall serve him.
Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
31 They shall come and shall declare his righteousness to a people that shall be born,
for he has done it.

18 Children, we should not just think or talk about love. We should love others by helping them with a sincere heart. 19 This way, we know we are doing the right thing. And when we pray to God, we can feel confident, 20 even if we feel guilty. Remember, God is greater than us. He knows everything!

21 My loved ones, even if we feel guilty, we can boldly pray to God. 22 And whatever we ask God, he will give us, because we obey his commands and do the right thing in his sight. 23 This is his command: Believe in God's Son, Jesus Christ. And love each other, just like he wanted us to. 24 The person who obeys his commands stays close to Jesus. And Jesus stays close to him. This way, we know that Jesus stays with us. We have the Spirit he gave us.

18 Little children, we should neither love as a concept nor in our words, but in deeds and in truth. 19 In this (fact) we know that we are from the truth and before him we will have confidence in our hearts, 20 if our hearts might (claim to) know (something) against (us), since God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if [our] hearts should not (claim to) know (something) against (us), we have confidence (to speak our minds) before God, 22 and whatever we might ask (from him) we will receive, because we keep his commands and we do the pleasing (deeds) before him. 23 This is his command: we should trust in the name of his SON, JESUS CHRIST, and we should love each other, just as he gave the command to us. 24 The (one) keeping HIS commands remains in HIM, and HE in him. In this (way), we know that HE stays in us, from the Spirit that HE gave to us.

Jesus said to his followers

1 I am the real vine and my Father is the vine gardener.

2 He cuts away every branch that does not remain with me.

But he prunes every branch that produces grapes,
so it can produce even more.

3 My Father has already pruned you,
because of the words I spoke to you when I lived with you.

4 Stay close to me and I will stay close to you.

Like a branch that cannot produce grapes by itself
unless it remains on the vine,
you cannot live as my follower,
unless you stay close to me.

5 I am the vine and you are the branches.

Without me, you cannot do anything as my follower.

But the follower who stays close to me and I am close to
will do many things,
just like the branch that produces lots of grapes.

6 If a follower does not stay close to me,
my Father will reject him,
like a branch he throws out and allows to dry up.

He will gather that branch together with the others,
and will throw them into the fire so they can be burned up.

7 If you stay close to me
and you keep my words close,
ask my Father for whatever you want,
and he will answer you.

8 My Father always receives honor
when you become my followers and do many good things.

1 I AM the true vine and MY Father is the grower (of the vineyard).

2 Every branch in ME not carrying fruit he cuts away;
every (branch) carrying fruit he cleans, so it might carry more fruit.

3 Already you are clean through the word that I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in ME and I (will remain) in you.

Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit by itself
unless it remains in the vine,
so you (can) not,
unless you remain in ME.

5 I am the vine, you are the branches.

The one remaining in ME and I in him,
this one bears much fruit.

Since, without ME, you are not able to do anything.

6 Unless one remains in ME,
he (will be) thrown out and dried out like a branch.

(Growers will) bring these (branches) together and throw (them) into a fire.

(They will be) burned up.

7 If you remain in ME and my words remain in you,
what (things) you might want, ask for (them), and they will happen for you.

8 MY Father is (always) glorified in this (way):
that you might become MY disciples and you might bear much fruit.