Texts taken from the Missalette “On Your Word” March-April 2023

2nd Sunday of Easter or of Divine Mercy (A)
proper

FIRST READING

From the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:42-47)
[Those who had been baptized] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. A sense of awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed 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. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple and broke bread at home, they ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the first reading

According to his promise, the risen Christ, who has ascended into heaven, nevertheless remains with humanity until the end of time. His presence in the time of the Church, however, is different from that during his earthly life. Now the Holy Spirit, the first gift of the Risen One to believers, continues his work on earth and manifests the power of his resurrection in history. For this reason, in Acts, Luke presents the account of the first steps of the Christian community, animated and moved by the Spirit of Jesus, as an essential part of the “good news.” In the first of the so-called “summaries” portraying the early Church, the main features of ecclesial life emerge. For this reason, this passage has become paradigmatic for all Christian communities. Four traits distinguish believers: devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and, finally, prayer. Thus the first Christian community is completely open to the gift of the Spirit, who, through the apostles, can perform wonders in it. The community’s way of life is a testimony to the world.

SECOND READING

From the first letter of Saint Peter the Apostle (1 Pt 1:3-9)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us new birth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into a living hope, into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith: the salvation of souls. – The Word of the Lord.

Commentary on the second reading

In his immense love, the Father has made us be born again, making us his children, through the death and resurrection of his only-begotten Son. This new birth does not look toward death, but toward “a living hope,” a promise not conditioned by the perishability of the things of this world. Its full possession is kept for us “in heaven,” but even now we have an “advance,” a “pledge,” to the extent that we are inwardly transformed from carnal beings into spiritual beings through a life consistent with the faith professed in Baptism. Addressing Christian communities tested by persecution, Peter offers comfort and light for interpreting the painful situations as the fulfillment of the plan of salvation. Sufferings must not become a cause of scandal or a stumbling block, but a purifying crucible in which faith is refined and made ever stronger. Indeed, it will be the document by which, on the last day, our love for Christ will be witnessed, while even now it grants ineffable joy to the heart and leads us to the goal: eternal salvation.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John (Jn 20:19-31)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the place where the disciples had met were locked because of fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: “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 that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. – The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

In the Gospel of John, the gift of the Spirit is linked to the gift of peace, both Easter symbols and both connected with forgiveness. Peace arises from the awareness that, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has forgiven and continues to forgive our sins. The Spirit, breathing tirelessly within us, not only shows us this love of God but also urges us to imitate it. This is why this Sunday is also called Divine Mercy Sunday: a new life awaits us beyond the fear of not being loved. But Thomas is outside as well: the one we always remember as the unbelieving apostle is actually the courageous apostle. Thomas has the courage to remain outside, even at the risk of his life, rather than surrender to the evidence, rather than stop seeking his Master. Jesus respects Thomas’s timing and, instead of imposing himself, offers himself: put your finger here, look, touch. Thanks to Thomas’s courage, we received from Jesus the ninth beatitude: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Unlike the other eight, which are more demanding, this beatitude is within everyone’s reach: for those who struggle, for those who search by groping, for those who cannot see, for those who begin again; every time.