1ST READING
Peter captures a profound truth when he mentions that “we are witnesses to this,” as he talks about the resurrection of Jesus. It is not just the Apostles who have the responsibility to proclaim the Good News to the world. We who have received the Gospel must share it with others. Gratitude for the great gift of salvation is an essential response to having received it. I am sure we can all remember our parents reminding us as children to thank those who gave us gifts on our birthdays and at Christmas, indeed at any time.
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. 23By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R)
2ND READING
The appearance of Christ in history changes the relationship of humanity with God. There is nothing anyone can do about this reality. The only choice we have is whether or not we want to accept Christ’s offer of salvation. This is where we discover whether our ultimate allegiance is with ourselves and what we can achieve on our own, or if we have the humility to accept God’s offer of salvation and experience what it means to live a life in partnership with God — with the power of the Holy Spirit helping us through our days.
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 life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
GOSPEL
Mary discovers an empty tomb. The empty tomb is an important aspect of our faith as it is a preliminary evidence of the resurrection of Jesus. If today they found bones that they could prove to be Jesus’, would that hinder my faith? The resurrected body is not a recycled version of our original body. It is our redeemed reality and, as such, we do not know what it consists. We are aware, through the appearances of Jesus after His resurrection, that we will be recognizable to those who know us but that the recognition is often initially slow in coming, as though there are significant differences that hinder immediate recognition.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed; let us then feast with joy in the Lord.
John 20:1-9 (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; 5he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. 6When 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.
LIST
think: Gratitude for the great gift of salvation is an essential response to having received it.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 1-3
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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