Saint Rita Catholic Church and School in Webster, NY - An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings

“Peace Be With You”

Easter is such a momentous event that we celebrate it for fifty days - from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. This is the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

During this Easter season, all of our first readings are taken from the Acts of the Apostles, our Epistles readings are taken from the Book of Revelation, and most of our Gospel readings are taken from the Gospel according to John. It is a special time when we learn about the early life of the Church and who Jesus truly is as He revealed Himself to His disciples and followers.

In our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16), we hear how the Apostles, especially Peter, were exercising the authority given by Jesus to heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and drive out demons. Many people were converted because of their words and deeds. ”A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.“

In our second reading from the Book of Revelation (Rev 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19), we hear John describe his first vision where he was called to testify to all the Churches of the risen Jesus’ mastery over death and his final judgement and rule on the “Lord’s Day” (the final day of judgement). John wrote in a time of distress and persecution and sought to give encouragement to Christians suffering in the name of Jesus.

Our Gospel reading (John 20:19-31) has two distinct messages. One is the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus appeared to His disciples in the locked room and gave them His peace and the authority to forgive sins. The other message is a call to faith, which, by its very nature, is a belief in someone or something we have not seen but know through faith to exist. This is the story of Thomas, who demanded to touch the wounds of Jesus before he would believe that Jesus was risen.

Our readings today urge us to have faith in this Jesus, the crucified, who rose from the dead, thus conquering death and atoning for our sins. In His passion and death, Jesus took upon Himself our infirmities, our sufferings, and transforms them every day into His risen body and blood through the Eucharist.

bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042725.cfm