Scripture Readings 19th April 2020, Second Sunday of Easter Year A
Between Easter and Pentecost, readings from the Old Testament are replaced by the Book of Acts, about the beginnings of the Church as the Holy Spirit continues Christ’s work on earth. Today Luke describes the early believers’ close-knit community, holding their resources in common, and practising their Jewish faith before meeting in their homes for Eucharist.
More verses from the psalm used for the Easter Masses, rejoicing at the coming of the king.
This year the second readings during Eastertide are from the First Letter of Peter, the only time this letter is read on Sundays. Written from Rome to the Gentile Christians in Asia Minor. God gives us a new birth and a hope based on the resurrection. We must try as good citizens to maintain Christian standards amid pagan people. Suffering can purify our faith, enabling us to imitate Christ more. God cares for us while we look forward to our inheritance in heaven.
This first week of Easter ends with the first ending of John’s Gospel. Jesus appears twice to the apostles, sending them out to forgive sins. After doubting without seeing, Thomas utters the most complete expression of faith. The brief accounts of Jesus’ ministry are that we may “believe that Jesus is the Christ, and “have life in his name”.
Psalm Response: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.
(Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 117(118); 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31)