May 1st, 2004, Wednesday of the fifth week of Easter.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers.

Unless you are circumcised according to the mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.

Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and

Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem

to the apostles and presbyters about this question. They were sent on their journey by the church

and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria,

telling of the conversion of the Gentiles

and brought great joy to all the brethren.

When they arrived in Jerusalem,

they were welcomed by the church,

as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported

what God had done with them. But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers

stood up and said, It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.

The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.

The Word of the Lord

The responsorial Psalm.

The response is,

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoice because they said to me, we will go up to the house of the Lord,

and now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.

...