("Jesus, I trust in You," Eugeniusz Kazimirowski, 1934)

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy
11 APRIL 2015
Lectionary: 44



First Reading 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.



Second Reading 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.

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.


(The Incredulity of St. Thomas, Benjamin West, 1738-1820)

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

Questions:

+The themes of the Second Sunday of Easter are those of faith and divine mercy. In the 1st Reading,
how do the Apostles and the early Church display their faith in God?

+In the 2nd Reading the ideas of obedience and faith are repeated often. How, in a sense, can these be
seen as different aspects of the same thing?

+Of who or what are the disciples afraid? Of all the things Jesus must have said, why does St. John
record “Peace be with you” three times (verses 19, 21, 26)? How does this relate to their fears? To their
being sent (verse 21)?

+How does Thomas’ personality compare with Mary Magdalene’s (verse 13)? To the other disciples
(verses 9, 19)? How does Jesus deal with Thomas’ doubt (verse 29)?

+Under what circumstances are you liable to exclaim, “My Lord and my God!” along with Thomas? How
might that prayer become more that a mere formula?

+Where could you use Jesus’ “peace” right now: in some relationship? In some inner fear? In your work?

+What doubts or questions about God are you struggling with? What have you found helpful in dealing
with doubts?
(courtesy of Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics)

Bible Study-2nd Sunday of Easter-Divine Mercy Sunday-Cycle B
(courtesy of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Faith Bible Studies)


(The Incredulity of St. Thomas, Caravaggio, 1602)

"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

Thank you for doing this every week. I like to read them & contemplate them prior to mass. These threads keep me honest. Plus, many a mass my wonderful children keep me.... Occupied
During the Readings.

Hope you started the Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday!

God Bless you

You're very welcome Brother, skid2041 !

You're right on the money; it really preps me for Mass as well.

--plus, these readings have got to give you the virtue of patience in dealing with the little 'uns!

GOD BLESS THEM--HOW WE LOVE THEM!

Divine Mercy Sunday!


Thanks BNA and May the