First Reading

First reading

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 2:42-47

In the early days of the Church, all those who had been baptized were constant in listening to the teaching of the apostles, in fraternal communion, in the breaking of the bread, and in prayers. All the people were filled with awe and fear, seeing the miracles and wonders that the apostles performed in Jerusalem.

All the believers lived united and had everything in common. Those who owned goods or properties sold them, and the proceeds were distributed among all, according to each one’s needs. Daily they gathered in the temple, and in the houses they broke bread and ate together, with joy and simplicity of heart. They praised God and all the people esteemed them. And the Lord increas

Second reading

Reading from the first letter of the apostle Saint Peter

1 Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for his great mercy, because by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, he granted us to be reborn to the hope of a new life, which cannot be corrupted or defiled and which he has reserved for us as an inheritance in heaven. Because you have faith in God, he protects you with his power, so that you may attain the salvation he has prepared for you and which he will reveal at the end of time.

For this reason, rejoice, even though now you have to suffer a little from various adversities, so that your faith, put to the test, may be found worthy of praise, glory, and honor on the day of the manifestation of Christ. For your faith is more precious than gold, and gold is refined by fire.

You have not seen Christ Jesus and yet you love him; believing in him now, without seeing him, you are filled with radiant and indescribable joy, certain of attaining the salvation of your souls, which is the goal of faith.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John

John 20:19-31

On the evening of the day of the resurrection, with the doors closed where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared in their midst and said to them: “Peace be with you.” Saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy.

Jesus said to them again: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Those whose sins you forgive will be forgiven; and those whose sins you do not forgive will remain unforgiven.”

Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came, and the other disciples said to him: “We have seen the Lord.” But he answered them: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail holes and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Eight days later, the disciples were together again behind closed doors, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came again and stood in their midst and said to them: “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas: “Here are my hands; come and touch with your finger. Bring your hand here and put it into my side, and do not doubt any longer, but believe.” Thomas answered him: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus added: “You believe because you have seen me; blessed are those who believe without having seen.”

Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, but they are not written in this book. These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that, believing, you may have life in his name.