Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Lectionary: 44
7 APRIL 2024 A.D.


Reading 1
Acts 4:32-35

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."

R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.


Reading 2
1 Jn 5:1-6

Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.


Sequence -- (optional)
Victimae paschali laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim
           Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
           Christ, who only is sinless,
           Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
           The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
           What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
           The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
           The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
           to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
           Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
           Amen. Alleluia.


Alleluia
Jn 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
Blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Jn 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
But he said to them,
"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.


Overview of the Gospel:

~ This Sunday’s reading begins on the evening of Easter Sunday and continues one week later—the
second Sunday of Easter. Every resurrection appearance of Jesus dated in the gospels occurs on a
Sunday. This Sunday is also the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, declared by Pope John Paul II on
April 30, 2000.

~ Jesus appears to his fearful disciples as they cowered behind locked doors. He bears in his glorified
body the scars of his Passion, showing he has the same body he was buried with and is not, as the
disciples fear, a ghost (Luke 24:36-40).

~ Jesus reassures them by saying “Peace” (“Shalom’). Jesus breathes on them, imparting the Holy Spirit
upon them. This anticipates the gift of the Spirit to be given to the Church 50 days later on Pentecost. It
also institutes the sacrament of Penance, by which the apostles are empowered to forgive sins in
Jesus’ name.

~ The apostle Thomas is not present at this first appearance and expresses his disbelief. Jesus returns,
however, and Thomas has a dramatic change of heart.
[special thanks to Vince Contreras: "Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics."]


"The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened." ~St. Gregory the Great

Thanks!

Yessir!

Have a blessed Easter season, Brother, tortilla-flats!