Easter

The sound of Alleluias fills the 50 days of Easter Sunday to Pentecost as we give thanks for the gift of our salvation. The Easter Triduum recalls the passion and resurrection of Christ in the sacred journey from Holy Thursday to Easter Vigil. "Dying he destroyed our death. Rising he restored our life."

Sunday Readings and Backgrounds

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Fifth Sunday of Easter

Reading I : Acts 14:21-27

They assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them.

The reading from Acts describes the return of Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to report on the success of their missionary efforts.
They help the new Christians organize their small communities.
The Christian communities are encouraged to persevere in spite of the suffering that their new faith might bring them.

Reading II : Revelation 21:1-5a

God will wipe away all the tears from their eyes.

The vision from Revelation is a description of God’s final victory over evil and the establishment of the kingdom in its fullness.
Jerusalem, the city of God and God’s people, comes from heaven and is made new by God.
The new community is represented by love for God and for one another.

Gospel : John 13:31-33a, 34-35

Love one another!

The Gospel presents the heart of Jesus’ message: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Before the passage, Judas left to betray Jesus.
The glorification of Jesus happens through betrayal, suffering and death.