Year A – Easter 6
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
May 10 – 6 Easter – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 10, 2026
Acts 17:22-31
Paul realizes that the people of Athens, by their pagan religion, are seeking a relationship with the divine. He challenges them to follow the living God whom he worships.
A reading (lesson) from the Acts of the Apostles:
(Lead in with) RSV: Paul, standing in the middle…; NRSV: Paul stood in front…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.”
New Revised Standard Version
Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him– though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 10, 2026
1 Peter 3:13-22
Peter offers words of hope to disciples who are suffering. He urges them to accept hardship for the sake of what is right, and to encourage one another.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Peter:
(Lead in with) RSV: Now who is there to harm…; NRSV: Now who will harm you…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
New Revised Standard Version
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you– not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 10, 2026
John 14:15-21
Jesus tells the disciples that he and the Father are one, and promises that the Holy Spirit will always be present in the church, enabling us to do great works.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to John:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus said to his disciples…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said to his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
May 10 – 6 Easter – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
(And for the Alternate Second Lesson)
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 10, 2026
Acts 17:22-31
Paul realizes that the people of Athens, by their pagan religion, are seeking a relationship with the divine. He challenges them to follow the living God whom he worships.
A reading (lesson) from the Acts of the Apostles:
(Lead in with) RSV: Paul, standing in the middle…; NRSV: Paul stood in front…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.”
New Revised Standard Version
Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him– though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
ILLUMINATION for the Alternate First Lesson
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 10, 2026
Isaiah 41:17-20
The Lord does more than meet the basic needs of his people. He responds with wonderful abundance so that the people will understand and glorify his power.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Thus says the Lord…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord your God: “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together; that men may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the Lord your God: “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 10, 2026
1 Peter 3:8-18
Peter offers words of hope to disciples who are suffering. He urges them to accept hardship for the sake of what is right, and to encourage one another.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Peter:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: All of you, beloved, have unity…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
All of you, beloved, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.” Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.
New Revised Standard Version
All of you, beloved, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A, May 10, 2026
John 15:1-8
Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine to describe himself as the source of our spiritual life. His life fulfills the hope of Israel, for he is the Messiah who calls us to glorify God by abiding in God’s love.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to John:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus said, “I am the true vine…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.”
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“The wind-burned Jew, wearied by travel, called out to them: I know that you have a sense of God, and in truth there is one God who gives life and breath to all; and now is the time to turn from idols and focus your eyes on this one God who has been there all along.”
“Behind a pantheon of competing gods, however, there is at least a common ache, a search, a groping, a desire to find that one pearl of great price (Acts 17:27). Christians are bold to say, in fear and trembling, that the perfect pearl beneath all human longing is Christ Jesus, the Lord.”
A Vertical Line and Concentric Circles
“Living godly and peaceable lives, speaking with gentleness and reverence, we are to tell of the great work of Christ in coming to be among us, suffering for us, dying for us, and descending into hell to deliver the captives.”
Preaching Today
Matt Stromberg: Convicted Civility on Mars Hill
“It is a good and necessary thing to have zeal for the truth. It is a good thing to have strong convictions. But it is equally important and necessary to hold those convictions with gentleness, respect, and reverence for the dignity of those with whom we disagree.”
Will Willimon: Meant for Mission
“We gather in church on Sunday to gain the insights, the reassurance, the equipment we’ll need to scatter into the world on Monday. The news we have received is news that’s meant to be shared. The sharing of the good news beyond the bounds of the church is called mission.”
Rowan Williams: Do You Love Me?
“St. Augustine said that a community becomes a community when it is united in love of the same thing. But that love of the same thing can be lifegiving or death-dealing, depending on what it is that is loved. We can find ourselves agreeing in the love of something that eats away at the very roots of our humanity while we ignorantly suppose that it is good and godly.”
Classic Texts
John Calvin: Preserved in Safety
“Peter reminds his readers, that the condition of the fathers was not different, and that though the multitude of the ungodly then covered the whole earth, their life was yet preserved in safety by the power of God.”
John Donne: One Spirit with Himself
“As our flesh is in him, by his participation thereof, so his flesh is in us, by our communication thereof. And so is his divinity in us, by making us one spirit with himself, which he does at Pentecost, that is, whensoever the Holy Ghost visits us with his effectual grace.”
Karl Barth: My Life as Your Own
“This I do so that you may be born again in me to new beings who, in hope, give God glory and stop seeking their own. This I do so that you may grow in me into a man with whom God is well pleased. Lifting it up for your sake, I live my life, my human life, my life as your own.”
Articles on Evangelism
Jerusalem Greer: The Way of Love: Go
“From exhaustion, to anger, to sadness, to responding to criticism, to loving the wrong people, to being willing to change his mind (not to mention a public execution), Jesus shows us that great vulnerability is often required to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God with both our lips and our lives.”
Cole Hartin: Evangelism, Lattes, and Limited Contact
“‘So, what do you want to be when you grow up?’ They would tell me their plan to write a novel, or to finish their degree so they can get a real job. I’d share about my aspirations to be a priest. … Of course, these conversations were punctuated by … ‘What can I get started for you today?’ But it didn’t take long to dive back into the problem of evil, or why I believe Jesus really did rise from the dead.”
Titus Presler: Evangelism? Tackling the Roots of Episcopalians’ Reluctance
“Episcopalians rhetorically affirm a connection between word and example, speech and deed. When it comes to practice, though, we typically say yes to example, yes to deed, but no to word, or, at best, maybe to word.”
Articles on Natural Revelation
Boone Porter: Yes and No
“Both in the coming and the going of natural life, both in its affirmation and its denial, both in its yes and no, we learn of the God who is above all times and seasons, the One who is eternal, holy, and true. So to the Christian there is meaning in the fact that sunset is as beautiful as sunrise, and the Fall is as beautiful as Spring.”
Will Brown: A Catechism of Nature
“The vernal continuum of Lent-Easter is the corporate living out of the Lord’s words to his disciples: ‘unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit’ (John 12:24). And the natural order, being the most primordial of God’s temporal utterances, responds and corresponds.”
David Ney: William Jones — Scripture Makes the World Speak
“Jones’s approach grants Scripture the ability to transform the world into a ‘commentary on the mind of God.’ It can only do so, however, as individual objects are saturated with Scripture, immersed in the water of the Word.”
Articles on Poetry and Theology
Chip Prehn: What Makes Us Beautiful
“The poet’s humility once enabled him to experience something even more rare than a colorful and melodious warbler sitting on his porch rail. For a brief moment, Berry experienced Being, but notice that the being of the creature was not eclipsed by the Being of the Creator.”
Zac Koons: Speaking in Tongues and Praying in Poetry
“For two years I pleaded with God to give me the gift of tongues. Studying theology was having the effect on me that it’s had on others. While it gave me an expanded vocabulary for talking about God, I felt increasingly paralyzed by over-analysis when I tried talking to him.”
Nate Wall: Figural Reading with George Herbert and John Donne
“This is what figural reading does for us too. It helps us to read the everyday jumble of our suffering, affliction and godforsakenness in the language of God’s judgment, only to find that our lives are already being translated into God’s mother tongue, mercy.”
