Daily Readings for April 16, 2017

EASTER SUNDAY

Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

1ST READING

In the Acts of the Apostles, the speeches of Peter and Paul are similar. This shows that the message of the Gospel is one and the same no matter who preaches it. Unity is essential in God’s new work. The mission will get derailed if the people are divided.

Acts 10:34, 37-43

34 Peter proceeded to speak and said: 37 You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, 38 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. 39 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. 40 This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, 41 not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 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. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

P S A L M

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R: This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 16 “The right hand of the Lord has struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R)

2ND READING

Paul reminds the communities that he established about growing in virtue. This requires the grace of God, and surrender and humility of the people. Our journey of faith will abruptly end if we do not surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit. We are dependent on Christ for everything.

Colossians 3:1-4 (or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

1 Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 3 For you have died, and your 5life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

GOSPEL

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the more attested events in history. There are more independent accounts that speak of the resurrection of Jesus than most other ancient events. We accept these without question. For example, Roman, Jewish and other historians write about the resurrection of a Jew named Jesus. We have the Gospels as well as other apocryphal works of the time. Sadly, many people still doubt that the resurrection happened.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord.

John 20:1-9 (or Matthew 28:1-10 or Luke 24:13-35)

1 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. 2 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.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; 5 he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6 When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 7 and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. 8 Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.