Tuesday in the 2nd Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 4:32-37
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. Thus Joseph, also named by the Apostles Barnabas (which is translated “”son of encouragement””), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth, sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the Apostles.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 (R. 1a)
R.The Lord is king; He is robed in majesty.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. R.
And He has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD. R.
Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed:
holiness befits Your house,
O LORD, for length of days. R.
Gospel – Jn 3:7b-15
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can this happen?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
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.
