Second Sunday of Easter

Acts 4:32-35 (JB)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

The whole group was united, heart and soul.

The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.

The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.

None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Acts 4:32-35 (NRSV)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul,

and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions,

but everything they owned was held in common.

With great power the apostles gave their testimony

to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and great grace was upon them all.

There was not a needy person among them,

for as many as owned lands or houses

sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.

They laid it at the apostles’ feet,

and it was distributed to each as any had need.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 117:2-4, 15-18, 22-24 (JB)

R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

his love is everlasting.

or

R. Alleluia.

Let the sons of Israel say:

‘His love has no end.’

Let the sons of Aaron say:

‘His love has no end.’

Let those who fear the Lord 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.

I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,

but not doomed to die. R.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the corner stone,

This is the work of the Lord,

a marvel in our eyes.

This day was made by the Lord;

we rejoice and are glad. R.

1 John 5:1-6 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St John

Anyone begotten by God has already overcome the world.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ

has been begotten by God;

and whoever loves the Father that begot him

loves the child whom he begets.

We can be sure that we love God’s children

if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us;

this is what loving God is –

keeping his commandments;

and his commandments are not difficult,

because anyone who has been begotten by God

has already overcome the world;

this is the victory over the world –

our faith.

Who can overcome the world?

Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God;

Jesus Christ who came by water and blood,

not with water only,

but with water and blood;

with the Spirit as another witness –

since the Spirit is the truth.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 John 5:1-6 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of John

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ

has been born of God,

and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.

By this 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 obey his commandments.

And his commandments are not burdensome,

for whatever is born of God conquers the world.

And this is the victory that conquers the world,

our faith.

Who is it that conquers the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ,

not with the water only but with the water and the blood.

And the Spirit is the one that testifies,

for the Spirit is the truth.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 20:29 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me;

happy are those who have not seen me, but still believe!

Alleluia!

John 20:29 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me;

happy those who have not seen me, but still believe!

Alleluia!

John 20:19-31 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

After eight days, Jesus came in and stood among them.

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,

so am I sending you.’

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.

For those whose sins you forgive,

they are forgiven;

for those whose sins you retain,

they are retained.’

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord,’ he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to John

It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead,

the first day of the week,

and the doors of the house where the disciples had met

were locked for fear of the Jewish authorities.

Jesus came and stood among them and said,

“Peace be with you.”

After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

Then 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.”

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;

if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas, who was called the Twin, one of the twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told 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 in the mark of the nails

and my hand in his side,

I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house,

and Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were shut,

Jesus came and stood among them and said,

“Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas,

“Put your finger here and see my hands.

Reach out your hand and put it in my side.

Do not doubt but believe.”

Thomas answered him,

“My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him,

“Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen

and yet have come to believe.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples,

which are not written in this book.

But these are written so that you may come to believe

that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,

and that through believing you may have life in his name.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.