May 23rd, 2006, 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, So you, Psalm.

The response is, the just will gaze on your face, O Lord.

The Lord is in his holy temple.

The Lord's throne is in heaven.

His eyes behold, his searching gaze is on mankind. The just will gaze on your face,

O Lord. The Lord searches the just and the wicked, the lover of violence he hates. For the Lord is

just, he loves just deeds. The upright shall see his face. The just will gaze on your

face, O Lord. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined

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