April 13, 2006, Monday of the second week of Easter.

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 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.

The response is,

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.

Why do the nations rage and the people's 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.

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