April 30, 2023 - Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 2:14.36-41

    Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”

    Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever theLord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

    Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 23

R –The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want!

* The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R.

* He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark val- ley I fear no evil, for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R.

* You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R.

* Only goodness and kind- ness follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. R

Second Reading - 1 Pt 2:20-25

    Beloved:

    If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.

    He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten. Instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

    For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 10:14

Alleluia! Alleluia!
“I am the Good Shepherd,” says the Lord; “I know my sheep, and mine know me.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 10:1-10

    Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not fol- low a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”

    Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

    So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.

    A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

April 23, 2023 - Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 2:14.22-33

    Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.

    But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: ‘I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

    Brothers, one can confi- dently say to you about the pa- triarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption.

God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 16

R – Lord, you will show us the path of life!

* Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. R.

* I bless the Lord who coun- sels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R.

* Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices; my body, too, abides in confidence, be- cause you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R.

* You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. R

Second Reading - 1 Pt 1:17-21

    Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impar- tially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning.

    Realize that you were ran- somed from your futile con- duct, handed on by your ances- tors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

    He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Gospel Acclamation - Lk 24:32

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Lk 24:13-35

    That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.

    And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?”

    And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

    And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

    As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him: “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that, their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

    Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

April 16, 2023 - Second Sunday of Easter - Feast of Christ, King of Divine Mercy (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 2:42-47

    They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

    All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes.

    They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoy- ing favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 118

R – 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 for- ever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” R.

* 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.

* The stone which the build- ers 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

Second Reading - 1 Pt 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is                   imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Although you have not seen him, you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and gl rious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 20:29

Alleluia! Alleluia!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; 

blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe! 

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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 dis- ciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so Isend 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.

April 9, 2023 - Easter Sunday (Years A, B and C)

 

 

First Reading - Acts 10:34.37-43

    Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 

     This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be seen, not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 

     He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 118 

R –This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!

* Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” R. 

* The right hand of the Lord has struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. R. 

* The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. R. 

Second Reading - Col 3:1-4

    Brothers and sisters: 

    If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 

    For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.

 

Sequence 

C –With the ancient poet, let us proclaim the joy of Mary Magdalene at Jesus’ resurrection. 

All - Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises! A Lamb the sheep redeems: Christ, who only is sinless, reconciles sinners to the Father. 

    Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: the Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal. 

    Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw, wayfaring. “The tomb of Christ, who is living, the glory of Jesus’ resurrection; bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting. Yes, Christ my hope is arisen: to Galilee he goes before you.” 

    Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen! Alleluia! 

Gospel Acclamation - 1 Cor 5:7-8 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us then feast with joy in the Lord. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Jn 20:1-9

    On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 

    So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first. He bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple, who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.