Daily Catholic Mass Readings for April 16, 2023
First Reading: Acts 2.42-47
42Now they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers43And fear developed in every soul. Also, many miracles and signs were accomplished by the Apostles in Jerusalem. And there was a great awe in everyone44And then all who believed were together, and they held all things in common45They were selling their possessions and belongings, and dividing them to all, just as any of them had need46Also, they continued, daily, to be of one accord in the temple and to break bread among the houses; and they took their meals with exultation and simplicity of heart47praising God greatly, and holding favor with all the people. And every day, the Lord increased those who were being saved among them
Psalm 118
1Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever2Let Israel now say: For he is good, for his mercy is forever3Let the house of Aaron now say: For his mercy is forever4Let those who fear the Lord now say: For his mercy is forever5In my tribulation, I called upon the Lord. And the Lord heeded me with generosity6The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man can do to me7The Lord is my helper. And I will look down upon my enemies8It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in man9It is good to hope in the Lord, rather than to hope in leaders10All the nations have surrounded me. And, in the name of the Lord, I have been avenged over them11Surrounding me, they closed in on me. And, in the name of the Lord, I have been avenged over them12They surrounded me like a swarm, and they burned like fire among the thorns. And, in the name of the Lord, I have been avenged over them13Having been pushed, I was overturned so as to fall. But the Lord took me up14The Lord is my strength and my praise. And he has become my salvation15A voice of exultation and salvation is in the tabernacles of the just16The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue. The right hand of the Lord has exalted me. The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue17I will not die, but I will live. And I will declare the works of the Lord18When chastising, the Lord chastised me. But he has not delivered me over to death19Open the gates of justice to me. I will enter them, and I will confess to the Lord20This is the gate of the Lord. The just will enter by it21I will confess to you because you have heard me. And you have become my salvation22The stone which the builders have rejected, this has become the head of the corner23By the Lord has this been done, and it is a wonder before our eyes24This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us exult and rejoice in it25O Lord, grant salvation to me. O Lord, grant good prosperity26Blessed is he who arrives in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you from the house of the Lord27The Lord is God, and he has enlightened us. Establish a solemn day amid a dense crowd, even to the horn of the altar28You are my God, and I will confess to you. You are my God, and I will exalt you. I will confess to you, for you have heeded me. And you have become my salvation29Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1.3-9
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has regenerated us into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead4unto an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance, which is reserved for you in heaven5By the power of God, you are guarded through faith for a salvation which is ready to be revealed in the end time6In this, you should exult, if now, for a brief time, it is necessary to be made sorrowful by various trials7so that the testing of your faith, which is much more precious than gold tested by fire, may be found in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ8For though you have not seen him, you love him. In him also, though you do not see him, you now believe. And in believing, you shall exult with an inexpressible and glorious joy9returning with the goal of your faith, the salvation of souls
Gospel: John 20.19-31
19Then, when it was late on the same day, on the first of the Sabbaths, and the doors were closed where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and he said to them: "Peace to you.20And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and side. And the disciples were gladdened when they saw the Lord21Therefore, he said to them again: "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.22When he had said this, he breathed on them. And he said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit23Those whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus arrived25Therefore, the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I will see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the place of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.26And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them. Jesus arrived, though the doors had been closed, and he stood in their midst and said, "Peace to you.27Next, he said to Thomas: "Look at my hands, and place your finger here; and bring your hand close, and place it at my side. And do not choose to be unbelieving, but faithful.28Thomas responded and said to him, "My Lord and my God.29Jesus said to him: "You have seen me, Thomas, so you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.30Jesus also accomplished many other signs in the sight of his disciples. These have not been written in this book31But these things have been written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that, in believing, you may have life in his name
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the life of faith, the power of community, and the enduring presence of God in our lives. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in harmony, sharing resources, and gathering regularly for prayer and the breaking of bread. This was a time of great joy and simplicity, yet also of challenges and trials. The believers were not immune to suffering, but their faith sustained them, and they found strength in their unity and their trust in God. The second reading from 1 Peter reminds us that our faith is a gift from God, rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through faith that we inherit an eternal and incorruptible inheritance, one that is guarded by God’s power. Even when we face trials, we are called to rejoice because these trials refine our faith, making it more precious than gold. Finally, in the Gospel, we encounter Thomas, who struggled with doubt after the resurrection. Jesus’ encounter with Thomas reminds us that faith is not about seeing but about trusting in what we cannot see. Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” are a timeless invitation to all of us to deepen our faith, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.
These readings are deeply interconnected. The early Christian community in Acts is the fruit of the mission Jesus entrusted to his disciples, as seen in the Gospel. The believers in Acts lived out their faith in practical ways, sharing their resources and supporting one another, just as Jesus had taught them. The second reading from 1 Peter provides the theological foundation for understanding why the early Christians could live with such hope and joy despite their trials. Their faith was rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, which gave them confidence in God’s ultimate triumph over suffering and death. The story of Thomas, meanwhile, reminds us that faith is not always easy. Doubt can creep in, but Jesus is patient and gracious, offering us the opportunity to grow in faith even when we stumble.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are reminded of the importance of living in community and supporting one another, just as the early Christians did. We are also called to trust in God’s plan, even when we face challenges or uncertainties. Like Thomas, we may struggle with doubt at times, but Jesus invites us to move beyond our fears and to place our trust in him. The moral lesson here is clear: faith is not about having all the answers but about surrendering to God’s love and trusting in his presence, even when we cannot see the way ahead. Let us strive to live with the same hope and joy as the early Christians, knowing that our faith is a gift from God, and that he is always with us, guiding us toward eternal life.