Prayer
Lord Jesus, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free! May we celebrate your rising from the dead with joy, knowing that we shall follow you through death into life! We ask this in your Holy name. Amen.
1st Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Luke paints some very descriptive pictures on what the early church looked like. Today’s first reading is just one of them. It almost seems too good to be true; however, if we compare them to Paul’s letters to the early communities he helped establish, there is quite a contrast.
Luke is speaking about the Jewish communities that
were the first followers of Jesus. They were raised from
birth with a sense of family and tradition. Their heritage
was everything to them. They knew what it meant to be
Jewish especially in their relationship to God and to
each other.On the other hand, Paul wrote to the early communities of Rome, Corinth, Ephesus and so on. His letters contained praise, but mostly encouragement on how to act ethically and morally. He also instructed them on how to truly live as community.
At Easter, we just witnessed how our faith community increase in numbers through the new converts initiated into our Church, thus, we continue the mission to bring new members to the Lord.
Questions
How do I participate in community?
How do I help the Lord, add to their numbers?
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
In the first letter of Peter, instruction is given to those about to be Baptized. It speaks of the miracle that happens in Baptism; this inner joy we share as children of God.
This is the joy we also see in our First Reading. We have a sense of belonging in Christ’s community. Community can help us to understand God not only from our perspective but also from the group experience. Each time we share an example from our life, our adventures, our wonder and awe on how God works in our life; it changes the way the group reacts or responds. When we share our time including helping those who are in need, the lonely, the sick, the lost, we usually come away with a new sense of hope.
Although we live life on life’s terms--with all its trials and tribulations, we have hope in salvation through the resurrection of Jesus.
Question
How do we maintain joy when we suffer life’s trials?
Gospel: John 20: 19-31
Notice the first gift Jesus gives after the resurrection, peace. This is not just a greeting, but also an actual gift. Peace is a state of tranquility or quietness of spirit that transcends circumstances. The term peace as Jesus uses it is a gift from God and congruent with His character. If God is peace, then to know God is to bask in His peace.
John makes the point, loud and clear, that Thomas was absent from the first encounter that convinced the disciples that Jesus was really a live.
Thomas wouldn’t believe unless he had direct contact with Jesus himself.
John uses Thomas’s doubt to make the point that everyone who receives the gospel, by hearing, instead of seeing Jesus in person, is just as blessed with the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins, and the peace that only Jesus can give.
Question
Think of a time when you experienced Jesus’ peace.
How do you share the peace that was given to you?
This Week's Task
Think of people you know who seem anxious or worried and make a point of sharing the peace you have with them. If you’re the anxious or worried one, how can you receive Jesus’ peace? (Hint; Forgiveness of sins.)
Pray the following from St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Psalm
Response: Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Alleluia.
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:
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.
Alleluia.
Our Father
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