Daily Readings - Sun Apr 19 2020
Acts
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1 Peter
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
John
19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the life of faith, hope, and community that define us as followers of Christ. In the first reading from Acts, we see the early Christian community living in profound unity, sharing resources, and gathering regularly for prayer and the breaking of bread. This was not just a social arrangement but a spiritual way of life rooted in their shared faith in the risen Lord. Their perseverance in the face of challenges and their joy in simplicity of heart remind us that the Christian life is meant to be lived with radical generosity and love.
The second reading from 1 Peter deepens this theme by focusing on the hope that comes from the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds us that our inheritance is incorruptible and reserved for us in heaven, but this hope is not without its trials. Just as gold is tested by fire, our faith is purified through suffering. This does not mean we should seek suffering, but rather that we should trust in God’s plan and find joy in the midst of it, knowing that our ultimate salvation is secure.
In the Gospel, John 20, we encounter the risen Jesus appearing to his disciples and breathing the Holy Spirit upon them. This moment is the foundation of our faith and mission as Christians. The story of Thomas, often misunderstood as a skeptic, actually reveals the depth of faith. Thomas’s demand to see and touch the wounds of Christ is not a sign of doubt but a desire to fully embrace the truth. Jesus’ response, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” speaks directly to us today. We are called to live by faith, trusting in God’s presence even when we cannot see him.
These readings together remind us that the Christian life is one of community, hope, and faith. Like the early Church, we are called to live with generosity, unity, and perseverance. Like Thomas, we are invited to move beyond doubt to a deeper trust in God’s plan. And like the disciples, we are sent forth with the Holy Spirit to share the Good News with the world. Let us ask ourselves: How am I living out my faith in my daily life? Am I trusting in God’s plan even when the road is uncertain? May we, like the early Christians, find joy in simplicity, hope in trials, and faith in the unseen, knowing that the risen Christ is always with us.