Readings

First Reading
Acts 4:23-31

As they prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

After their release Peter and John went back to their own people
   and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them.
And when they heard it,
   they raised their voices to God with one accord
   and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth
   and the sea and all that is in them,
   you said by the Holy Spirit
   through the mouth of our father David, your servant:

   Why did the Gentiles rage
      and the peoples entertain folly?
   The kings of the earth took their stand
      and the princes gathered together
      against the Lord and against his anointed.

Indeed they gathered in this city
   against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed,
   Herod and Pontius Pilate,
   together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
   to do what your hand and your will had long ago planned to take place.
And now, Lord, take note of their threats,
   and enable your servants to speak your word
   with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal,
   and signs and wonders are done
   through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook,
   and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
   and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9

R. :

℟. (See 11d) Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Why do the nations rage
   and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
   and the princes conspire together
   against the LORD and against his anointed:
“Let us break their fetters
   and cast their bonds from us!”

℟. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

He who is throned in heaven laughs;
   the LORD derides them.
Then in anger he speaks to them;
   he terrifies them in his wrath:
“I myself have set up my king
   on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD.

℟. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
   this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
   the nations for an inheritance
   and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
   you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.”

℟. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
  or:
℟. Alleluia.

Acclamation before the Gospel
Col 3:1

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Jn 3:1-8

No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
   “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
   for no one can do these signs that you are doing
   unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
   “Amen, amen, I say to you,
   unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to him,
   “How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”
Jesus answered,
   “Amen, amen, I say to you,
   unless one is born of water and Spirit
   he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
   and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
   ‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills,
   and you can hear the sound it makes,
   but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
   so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.