Second Sunday 0f Easter, Cycle C

Prayer

Loving Father,

Open our eyes to see your Son who rose from the dead and opened for us the bright promise of immortality. May we bear witness to his life, death, and resurrection in this Easter Season and throughout our lives. Grant this Christ our Lord. Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading: Acts 5:12-16

The Acts of the Apostles is proclaimed throughout the Easter Season to recall the joy of the Early Church.

The joy of the Risen Lord and the gift of the Holy Spirit who rested upon the Apostles caused many to come to the Lord.

In the case of our 1st Reading, many came to the Lord through the “signs and wonders” at the “hands of the apostles.” Those sick who were brought to the apostles “were all cured.”

These signs and wonders are designed to show that the radiance of Christ’s risen in glory does not stop on Easter Day. The power Risen Lord is now found within the hands of the apostles and the new life of the Church.

The excitement of the early Christians after Easter is still celebrated today through the proclamation of the Word of God and the Sacramental life of the Church.

Question:

How is the Easter joy of the Risen Lord celebrated in your life?

2nd Reading: Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19

The Risen Jesus says to John, “Do not be afraid.” He comforts the apostle with a reminder, “Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.” These words of comfort may be compared to the words Jesus offers the apostles in the Upper Room (see Gospel). There, He says, “Peace be with you!” Our Lord is comforting indeed!

Have you ever wondered why we read, “forever and ever,” and not simply, “forever?” It almost seems redundant. However, in the Greek language, the word “forever” could just mean “until the end of our earthly days or until the end of time.”

Adding the words “and ever” means that in Christ, time never ends — even after death.

If you look closely at our Easter Candle, found at the Ambo (pulpit) of the Church during the Easter Season, you may see the two Greek letters, Alpha and Omega. These letters mean, “The beginning and the end,” or the “first and the last.” These letters refer to Christ Jesus, who is “all time.” So, the next time you close your prayer with “forever and ever,” remember Jesus, our Alpha and Omega. He is our “Forever and Ever!”

Question:

Have you ever wondered what an endless life with God and the Saints will be like?

Gospel: John 20:19-31

This Gospel is read every year on the Second Sunday of Easter because of the words, “Now a week later …” This is the concluding day of the Octave (eighth day) of Easter.

On this day, Thomas’ faith is challenged by the Risen Lord. In this scene, the Lord speaks of those who are to come (including ourselves) and who will not have the privilege to see as Thomas does.

Yet, they will still come to believe. True belief requires something other than the use of our five senses. This is why Thomas’ words, “I will not believe” coupled with “unless I see,” are ridiculous.

True faith requires trusting in that which is unseen. Trust is the true ingredient to faith.

On this Eight Day of Easter, we also

celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, where we read the words below the image of Jesus, “Jesus, I trust in you.” Our faith is secure when we place our trust in Jesus!

Question:

Are you a person who needs to see to believe?

This Week’s Task

At 3:00 p.m., Catholics gather on Divine Mercy Sunday (and any day) to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The chaplet is a selfless prayer, offering Jesus to the Father for the sins of the world.

Consider offering this prayer for the world. For information on how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, visit dphx.org/Christ-in-Our-Neighborhood (see below for further instructions) or thedivinemercy.org

Group Prayer

The Leader invites the gathering to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. A page on How to Pray the Chaplet may be downloaded at dphx.org/Christ-in-our-neighborhood. Click on Download a Weekly Commentary and go to the Second Sunday of Easter.

If time does not permit, the Leader may have the gathering say together:

“Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

A Divine Mercy Image may be placed on a table as a point for reflection.

Psalm

Response: 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.

Conclude with an Our Father