April 21st, 2006, Tuesday of the third week of Easter.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes,

You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears.

You always oppose the Holy Spirit. You are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets

did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,

whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.

When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But Stephen,

filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus

standing at the right hand of God. And Stephen said,

Behold, I see the heavens opened and the son of man standing at the right hand of God.

But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears and rushed upon him together.

They threw him out of the city and began to stone him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning

Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin

against them. And when he said this, he fell asleep. Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

The word of the Lord. The responsorial psalm.

The response is,

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety.

You are my rock and my fortress.

For your name's sake, you will lead and guide me.

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