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| "Feed My Lambs" - by James Tissot |
FIRST READING:
Acts 25: 13 - 21
13
Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Berni'ce arrived
at Caesare'a to welcome Festus.
14
And as they stayed there many days, Festus laid Paul's case before
the king, saying, "There is a man left prisoner by Felix;
15
and when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the
Jews gave information about him, asking for sentence against him.
16
I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up
any one before the accused met the accusers face to face, and had
opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against
him.
17
When therefore they came together here, I made no delay, but on the
next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be
brought in.
18
When the accusers stood up, they brought no charge in his case of
such evils as I supposed;
19
but they had certain points of dispute with him about their own
superstition and about one Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul
asserted to be alive.
20
Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether
he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.
21
But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of
the emperor, I commanded him to be held until I could send him to
Caesar."
PSALM:
Psalms 103: 1 - 2, 11 - 12,
19 - 20
1
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy
name!
2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
11
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his
steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our
transgressions from us.
19
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom
rules over all.
20
Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word,
hearkening to the voice of his word!
GOSPEL: John
21: 15 - 19
15
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon,
son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him,
"Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him,
"Feed my lambs."
16
A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love
me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
17
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love
me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time,
"Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know
everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed
my sheep.
18
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself
and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch
out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do
not wish to go."
19
(This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after
this he said to him, "Follow me."
