May 18th, 2004, Saturday of the seventh week of Easter, Mass in the Morning.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Three days later, he called together the leaders of the Jews.

When they had gathered, he said to them,

My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs,

I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem.

After trying my case, the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against

me deserving the death penalty.

But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation

to make against my own nation.

This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you, and to speak with you, for it is

on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.

He remained for two full years in his lodgings.

He received all who came to him,

and with complete assurance,

and without hindrance,

he proclaimed the kingdom of God

and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Word of the Lord.

The response soil Lord. The response, Soya, Psalm.

The response is,

...