Easter is the most important Christian festival. Christians celebrate it
on the basis of their belief that Jesus rose from the dead
Invitation
May I take this opportunity to draw your attention to the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation aims to share with you the joy of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their heart
to the healing power of God’s word.
Available every day
Consideration
It is not inconceivable that some of those listening to Peter now had no qualms about Pontius Pilate’s condemnation of Jesus. Peter calls for an examination of conscience. It is the Lord himself whom they have crucified! This wording is remarkable. Previously, Jesus had been a remarkable man to the disciples, a prophet. The Resurrection marked a turning point: Jesus was indeed the Lord! Then it dawns on the listeners, and they wonder how things could have come to this. So it is in our lives too: we sometimes do wrong and only realise afterwards what that has meant for others. The Lord’s Easter offers us the chance to become aware of these sins, but also: to realise how unimaginably great Jesus’ love is that He paid such a high price for us.
FIRST READING Acts 2, 36–41
Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus.
From the Acts of the Apostles
On the day of Pentecost, Peter addressed the Jews:
“Let it be known to the whole house of Israel, therefore, with certainty,
that God has made both Lord and Christ,
the One whom you crucified.”
When they heard this, they were deeply moved;
and they said to Peter and the other apostles:
“What shall we do, brothers?”
Peter replied to them:
“Repent;
and let each of you be baptised
in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins;
then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.
“For the promise is for you,
your children,
and all who are far off,
as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
With many other words he bore witness,
and he exhorted them:
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Those who accepted his word were baptised,
so that on that day about three thousand people were added to their number.
INTERLUDIUM Ps. 33(32), 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
The earth is full of the Lord’s mercy.
or:Alleluia.
The word of the Lord is true,
and all his works are faithful.
He loves justice and righteousness;
the earth is full of his mercy.
It is God who watches over his servants,
those who trust in his favour.
He will deliver them from death,
ALLELUIA Ps . 118(117), 24
Alleluia.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Alleluia.
SEQUENCE
Let us praise the Lamb of Easter,
honour the Lamb of God with offerings.
Yes, the Lamb saves the sheep,
Christ, through his innocence, brings us,
poor sinners, to the Father.
Death and life, O wonder,
must struggle together.
He who died, He lives, He is our King.
Tell us, Mary,
what is it that you have seen?
Christ’s tomb that was empty,
the glory of Him who has risen,
angels as witnesses,
the sweat cloth and the shroud.
My hope, my living Christ!
Behold, He goes before you to Galilee.
Truly Christ is risen: He rose from the dead.
O King, our Hero, grant us peace. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 20, 11–18
I have seen the Lord, and this is what He said to me.
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
At that time, Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent down towards the tomb
and saw, in the place where Jesus’ body had lain,
two angels dressed in white,
one at the head and one at the foot.
They said to her:
“Woman, why are you weeping?”
She replied:
“They have taken away my Lord,
and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
When she had said this, she turned around;
and saw Jesus standing there, but did not realise it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her:
“Woman, why are you weeping?
“Whom are you seeking?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she asked:
“Sir, if you have taken him away,
tell me where you have laid him,
so that I may take him away.”
Then Jesus said to her:
“Mary!”
She turned round and said to him in Hebrew:
“Rabboni!”
which means ‘Teacher’.
Then Jesus said:
“Do not hold on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to my Father;
but go to my brothers and tell them:
I am ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.”
Mary Magdalene went to tell the disciples
that she had seen the Lord,
and what He had said to her.
Laudato Si
Encyclical of
POPE FRANCIS
On Care for Our Common Home
79. In this universe, which consists of interconnected open systems,
we can discover countless forms of relationship and participation.
This also leads us to think of the whole as open
to the transcendence of God, within which it develops.
Faith enables us to interpret the meaning and the mysterious beauty of what is happening.
Human freedom can make its intelligent contribution to a positive evolution,
but it can also add new evils, new causes of suffering and true regression.
This determines the exciting and dramatic history of humanity,
which reveals both a flowering of liberation, growth, salvation and love,
and apath of decline and mutual destruction. Therefore, the Church’s
action seeks not only to remind us of the duty to care for nature,
but at the same time “it must above all protect humanity from the destruction of itself”.
To be continued
Every day at 1 am
The Bible text in this edition is taken fromThe New Bible Translation,
©Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap 2004/2007.
Reflections from Liturgical Suggestions for Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si Official English translation
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