Preparing for the Mass - April 19, 2009

The Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

Reading 1
Acts 4:32-35

". . . . 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. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia
". . . . 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."

Reading II
1 Jn 5:1-6
". . . . For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome. . . "

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."

First, For the children.

Now for us BIG KIDS.
With the appearance of the risen Lord on Easter evening, the disciples pass over from fear to rejoicing, from disbelief to belief. This transformation, however, is incomplete—a week later, disciples are still hiding behind locked doors.

Yet the risen Lord does not abandon them, but continues to make his presence know not only to the disciples who saw him the week before, but now also to Thomas who is present, sees, and comes to belief.

This is good news for us. No matter how halting our belief in the resurrection, the risen Lord is relentless in leading us to belief and to the new life this belief brings.



sources:
Center for Liturgy Index Page - choose date

Working With the Word  (The Order of St. Benedict, Inc., Collegeville, Minnesota)