This week falls in between the Ascension and Whitsunday. The Collect ties both days together, and the readings focus on how the Holy Spirit equips us for the coming conflict of evangelism and spiritual warfare. The Epistle reading is 1 Peter 4:7:11, instructing us on to live in charity even in the face of divine judgment. The Gospel reading is St. John 15:24-16:4, where Jesus explains that the Holy Spirit will enable us to persevere and bear witness, even in the face of persecution. The Old Testament lessons are Deut. 12 and 13, two lessons about fighting false worship and false prophets during the conquest.