April 23, 2017 Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) (Year A)

MASS READINGS

FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common.
The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the
brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep impression
on everyone.
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their
goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to
what each one needed. They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their
houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they
praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their
community those destined to be saved.
The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 117:2-4. 22-27. R/ v.1
R/ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
or
R/ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. 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/
2. I was thrust, thrust down and falling
but the Lord was my helper.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just. R/
3. 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/

SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St. Peter 1:3-9
In his great mercy he has given us a new birth as his sons by raising Jesus from the dead.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given
us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a
sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and
never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith,
God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed
at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a
short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ
is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more
precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and
then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love
him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it
cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your
faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.
The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation Jn 20:29
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said: ‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
Alleluia!

GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 20:19-31
Eight days later, Jesus came.
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 that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into 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.