Third Sunday of Easter
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 4:1-12
Peter said to the people: “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised Him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did; but God has thus brought to fulfillment what He had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer. Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 (R.7a)
R. Lord, let your face shine on us.
or:
R. Alleluia.
When I call, answer me, O my just God,
You who relieve me when I am in distress;
have pity on me, and hear my prayer! R.
Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one;
the LORD will hear me when I call upon Him. R.
O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart. R.
As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,
for You alone, O LORD,
bring security to my dwelling. R.
Second Reading – Acts 4:1-12
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Those who say, “I know Him,” but do not keep his commandments are liars, and the truth is not in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.
Gospel – Lk 24:35-48
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, He stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as He said this, He showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, He asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of baked fish; He took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them,“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
Featured Saints
St. Lambert of Lyon, bishop (†688). Monk of Fontenelle Abbey, of which he became the superior after the death of St. Wandrille. He was later elected Bishop of Lyon.
St. Bernard of Tiron, abbot (†1117). After first entering the Monastery of St. Cyprian in Poitiers, France, he went on to found a monastery in Tiron, close to Chartres, where he instructed in Evangelical perfection the numerous disciples who gathered around him.
St. Tiburtius , St. Valerian and St. Maximus, Roman martyrs of the third century. According to tradition, St. Valerian was the husband of St. Cecilia and the brother of St. Tibutius, while St. Maximus was a converted Roman official who was put to death together with them.
St. Benezet of Avignon (†1184). Young shepherd, who, upon receiving a heavenly vision, headed to Avignon, France, where he built a bridge of the Rhone River and performed many miracles.
St. Lidwina, virgin (†1433). Consecrated to God at age 12 in Schiedam, Holland; a paralytic since her youth, she meekly accepted suffering in favour of the conversion of sinners and the salvation of the world.
Blessed Peter González, priest (†1246). He was canon of the Cathedral of Palencia, Spain, before becoming a Dominican friar. He accompanied St. Ferdinand of Castile as chaplain and preached especially to fishermen and sailors, who invoke him as St. Elmo.
Blessed Isabel Calduch Rovira, virgin and martyr (†1936). Capuchin religious, imprisoned, abused and shot to death during the religious persecution in Spain.
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