Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34, 37-43 (JB)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead.

Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’ Now I, and those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Acts 10:34, 37-43 (NRSV)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius.

“You know the message God sent to the people of Israel,

preaching peace by Jesus Christ-

he is Lord of all.

That message spread throughout Judea,

beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and with power;

how he went about doing good

and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,

for God was with him.

“We are witnesses to all that he did

both in Judea and in Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;

but God raised him on the third day

and allowed him to appear, not to all the people

but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses,

and who ate and drank with him after

he rose from the dead.

“He commanded us to preach to the people

and to testify that he is the one ordained by God

as judge of the living and the dead.

All the prophets testify about him

that everyone who believes in him

receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 117:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (JB)

R. This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad.

or

R. Alleluia.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

for his love has no end.

Let the sons of Israel say:

‘His love has no end.’ R.

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;

his right hand raised me up.

I shall not die, I shall live

and recount his deeds. R.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the corner stone.

This is the work of the Lord,

a marvel in our eyes. R.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians

Throw away the old yeast, that you may be new dough.

You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to leaven all the dough, so get rid of all the old yeast, and make yourselves into a completely new batch of bread, unleavened as you are meant to be. Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast, by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and wickedness, having only the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Colossians 3:1-4 (JB)

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians

Look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

Do you not know that a little yeast

leavens the whole batch of dough?

Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch,

as you really are unleavened.

For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.

Therefore, let us celebrate the festival,

not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil,

but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Colossians 3:1-4 (NRSV)

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians

If you have been raised with Christ,

seek the things that are above,

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things that are above,

not on things that are on earth, for you have died,

and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ who is your life is revealed,

then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (JB)

Sequence

Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.

The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;

and Christ, the undefiled,

hath sinners to his Father reconciled.

Death with life contended: combat strangely ended!

Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.

Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.

The tomb the Living did enclose;

I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!

The angels there attesting;

shroud with grave-clothes resting.

Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know.

Victorious king, thy mercy show!

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ has become our paschal sacrifice;

let us feast with joy in the Lord.

Alleluia!

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (NRSV)

Sequence

Christians, praise the paschal victim!

Offer thankful sacrifice!

Christ the Lamb has saved the sheep,

Christ the just one paid the price,

Reconciling sinners to the Father.

Death and life fought bitterly

For this wondrous victory;

The Lord of life who died reigns glorified!

O Mary, come and say

what you saw at break of day.

“The empty tomb of my living Lord!”

I saw Christ Jesus risen and adored!

Bright angels testified,

Shroud and grave clothes side by side!

“Yes, Christ my hope rose gloriously.

He goes before you into Galilee.”

Share the Good News, sing joyfully:

His death is victory!

Lord Jesus, Victor King, show us mercy.Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Christ has become our paschal sacrifice;

let us feast with joy in the Lord.

Alleluia!

John 20:1-9 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

The teaching of scripture is that he must rise from the dead.

It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:13-35 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

They recognised him at the breaking of the bread.

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.

Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us; they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’

Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.

When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 16:1-7 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, has risen.

When the sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices with which to go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, just as the sun was rising.

They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ But when they looked they could see that the stone – which was very big – had already been rolled back. On entering the tomb they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right-hand side, and they were struck with amazement. But he said to them, ‘There is no need for alarm. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he has risen, he is not here. See, here is the place where they laid him. But you must go and tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him, just as he told you.'”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 20:1-9 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to John

Early on the first day of the week,

while it was still dark,

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb

and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple,

the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them,

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,

and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Then Peter and the other disciple set out

and went toward the tomb.

The two were running together,

but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He bent down to look in

and saw the linen wrappings lying there,

but he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.

He saw the linen wrappings lying there,

and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head,

not lying with the linen wrappings

but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in,

and he saw and believed;

for as yet they did not understand the scripture,

that he must rise from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

On the first day of the week,

two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus,

about eleven kilometres from Jerusalem,

and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

While they were talking and discussing,

Jesus himself came near and went with them,

but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

And Jesus said to them,

“What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”

They stood still, looking sad.

Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him,

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem

who does not know the things

that have taken place there in these days?”

Jesus asked them, “What things?”

They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,

who was a prophet mighty in deed and word

before God and all the people,

and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over

to be condemned to death and crucified him.

But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.

Yes, and besides all this,

it is now the third day since these things took place.

Moreover, some women of our group astounded us.

They were at the tomb early this morning,

and when they did not find his body there,

they came back

and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels

who said that Jesus was alive.

Some of those who were with us went to the tomb

and found it just as the women had said;

but they did not see Jesus.”

Then Jesus said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are,

and how slow of heart

to believe all that the prophets have declared!

Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things

and then enter into his glory?”

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,

Jesus interpreted to them

the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going,

Jesus walked ahead as if he were going on.

But they urged him strongly, saying,

“Stay with us, because it is almost evening

and the day is now nearly over.”

So Jesus went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them,

he took bread, blessed and broke it,

and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus;

and he vanished from their sight.

The two disciples said to each other,

“Were not our hearts burning within us

while he was talking to us on the road,

while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem;

and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.

These were saying,

“The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”

Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road,

and how the Lord had been made known to them

in the breaking of the bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 16:1-8 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

When the sabbath was over;

Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Mother of James,

and Salome bought spices,

so that they might go and anoint Jesus.

And very early on the first day of the week,

when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

They had been saying to one another;

“Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

When they looked up,

they saw that the stone, which was very large,

had already been rolled back.

As they entered the tomb,

they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe,

sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them,

“Do not be alarmed;

you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.

He has been raised; he is not here.

Look, there is the place they laid him.

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter

that he is going ahead of you to Galilee;

there you will see him, just as he told you.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.