An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - April 27, 2025
“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
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - April 20, 2025
This Sunday is Easter! We have come to the climactic conclusion of our forty days of Lenten preparation and our Holy Week liturgies. This is considered the most joyous and most
sacred liturgy of the year.
Our Christ, who had come to live among us, suffered and died for our sins, and rose from the dead. Thus, He broke the bonds of death and leads the way for all of His faithful back to the Father.
There are two liturgies for our Easter celebration—Saturday Vigil and Easter Morning.
The Vigil Mass on Saturday night features numerous Old Testament readings that highlight many of the key moments in salvation history beginning with our first reading of the creation story (Genesis 1:1-2:2). In our second reading comes the story of God parting the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape their slavery in Egypt (Exodus 14:15 - 15:1). Our third reading is the prophesy of the Prophet Isaiah near the end of the Israelite's exile in Babylon. It is an invitation to God’s grace and blessings (Isaiah 55:1-11). In our fourth reading, the Prophet Baruch (Bar 3:9-15, 32—4:4), writes on the importance of Wisdom. She is seen as being very close to God.
In our Epistle reading (Romans 6:3-11), St. Paul teaches us that as we also died with Christ, so too, we will receive new life in Christ.
The Easter Sunday morning readings are shorter and focus more succinctly on Jesus' resurrection. The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 10:34, 37-43) and is an excerpt of St. Peter's speech in Caesarea where he boldly proclaimed the risen Christ.
Our Second reading (Colossians 3:1-4) is a short reminder of what we should be doing—always focused on Christ, seek what is above, instead of the things of the earth.
Our Gospel reading (John 20:1-9) is John's telling of the events on Easter morning. Mary of Magdala was the first to see the tomb empty and ran to get Simon Peter and the others.
Easter Vigil: bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041925.cfm
Easter Sunday: bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042025.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - April 13, 2025
“Father, Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Do”
Palm Sunday begins our Easter Holy Week. We walk with Jesus on His final journey to the cross—His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Passover supper with His friends, His betrayal,
passion and death and then, His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.
We begin today’s Mass with the Gospel reading at the Procession of the Palms (Luke 19:28-40), before the procession enters the main part of the Church.
Then, in our first reading (Isaiah 50:4-7), we hear part of Isaiah's lament of the suffering servant, which so fittingly foretells the passion that Jesus will endure. Persecuted for His righteousness, He does not flinch. “My back I gave to those who beat me... my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.”
In our Epistle reading (Philippians 2:6-11), St. Paul reminds us of the humility of Jesus, the meek and humble servant, coming in human likeness. Because of this, “God greatly exalted Him.”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 22:14 - 23:56) is St. Luke's account of the passion and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. He then stressed with His disciples the importance of servant leadership, “Let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.” Jesus forewarned Peter of his coming denial. After the supper was over, Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives to pray, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” Then came His betrayal by Judas, His arrest and trial before Pilate, Peter’s denial, and Jesus’ violent scourging, mockery, and crucifixion. As He hung, dying on the cross, He pleaded with His Father, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” At His death, Jesus cried out, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Lent is a time for reflection and prayer on the mysteries of Christ’s salvific gift. It would be good to take the time to prayerfully read Luke’s full Gospel account of Christ’s passion (Luke 22:14 - 23:56) so that we may more fully enter into the mystery of our Lord's gift of self to us and also to consider our response to that gift.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041325.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - April 6, 2025
“I Am The Resurrection And The Life”
Our readings for this Fifth Sunday of Lent focus our attention on the promise of new life in the resurrection of the body. It is a promise not to be taken
lightly. It is a central point of our faith.
Our first reading (Ezekiel 37:12-14) is an excerpt from the prophet Ezekiel’s “vision of the valley of bones”, prophesied during the time of Judah’s exile in Babylon. It was a time when all hope seemed lost. In Ezekiel’s vision, God commanded that he prophesy of a time when Israel would be restored and the “dry bones” would be raised from their graves, and given flesh and sinew and breath. “Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people!“ We await that same promise in Jesus Christ.
In our Epistle reading (Romans 8:8-11), St. Paul draws a sharp contrast between those who live in Christ and those who are still "in the flesh". For those believers who are living "in the Spirit", they will know the resurrection through the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead.
In our Gospel reading (John 11:1-45), we hear the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. Jesus did this "so that the crowd may believe that you (the Father) sent me". He cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.” This was a foretaste of the bodily resurrection that will come to us all at the final judgement and similar to Paul’s words in our Epistle reading. This is not unlike our first reading from Ezekiel when the Lord will “open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people!“
This Sunday’s readings along with the previous two Sundays (The Woman at the Well and the Healing of the Man Born Blind) were traditionally used by the early Church as instruction and insight for catechumens in preparation for Baptism. May their reflection be a source of renewal of our own Baptism as our Catechumens prepare for their Baptism in Christ and we all prepare for the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040625-YearA.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - March 30, 2025
“Do You Believe In The Son Of Man?”
Our readings for this Sunday are united by the themes of light vs. darkness—what God sees contrasted with what man cannot see, at least not without God's grace and
inspiration.
Our first reading (1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13) continues our journey through Salvation history. This Sunday, we hear of the anointing of the young shepherd boy David as King of Israel. God sent the prophet Samuel to Jesse saying that he would anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next King of Israel. Samuel met seven of Jesse’s sons, but God rejected all of them. Then, finally, the youngest son David, the shepherd, was presented and God said, “There—anoint him, for this is the one.” God saw what Samuel could not see. God looked into the heart and chose the ruddy youth David. Samuel anointed him to be the new King of Israel. “Not as man sees does God see”.
In our Epistle reading (Ephesians 5:8-14), Saint Paul reminds us that we have had our spiritual sight restored in Christ Jesus through our Baptism - we are no longer in darkness but are “children of the light in the Lord.” This brings certain responsibilities and expectations. Paul writes, “Live as children of the light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth . . . Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness.”
Our Gospel reading (John 9:1-41) is the story of Jesus healing the man blind from birth. Jesus healed the man with spittle and dust (clay), similar to God at creation, who formed man from His spittle and the dust of the earth. This blind man, in his healing, walks a similar journey as last week’s Gospel story of the Woman at the Well. First, Jesus is just “a man”, then Jesus is “a prophet”. Finally, Jesus asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?’” He said, “I do believe, Lord.” This is a story about spiritual blindness vs. physical blindness. It is representative of our Baptism. The blind man sees completely, but the Pharisees, though they can see physically, are still blind spiritually.
In this Gospel story, physical blindness can be seen as spiritual blindness. Its healing can be seen as the influence of the Holy Spirit in Baptism. Even though we see the world around us with our eyes, without God's grace, we are still in darkness. Grace gives the eyes of our soul the ability to see God, to know God, and to share God with others. As Saint Paul tells us, we must "Live as children of the light."
www.bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033025-YearA.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - December 25
“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US”
Our readings for Christmas Mass at night draw a direct connection between what Isaiah prophesied more than 500
years before Christ was born and what took place that Christmas night when the prophesy was fulfilled in all its humble glory.
In our first reading (Isaiah 9:1-6), we hear the prophesy of Isaiah that is proclaimed every Christmas Eve night - God's own Son will come to deliver us. "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
In our Epistle (Titus 2:11-14), St. Paul leads us to remember that Christ promised to come again and will deliver us from all lawlessness. Paul teaches us how to live while we await the return of Jesus our Savior. “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 2:1-14) is the account of Jesus' humble birth as Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census of the house of David. The first to bear witness were the lowly shepherds from the surrounding hillsides.
The birth of the Jesus the Messiah was not just something that happened a long time ago. It was an event foretold for centuries and awaited fervently by the people of Israel. From the moment of Jesus' birth to his tragic death and triumphant resurrection, he was the embodiment of humility, patience, and love. It is how he calls us to live "temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope."
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122523-night.cfm
Click 'Read more' for the reflection on the Christmas Day readings.