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

Previous Next

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Reading I : Acts 6:1-7

They chose leaders to care for the poor.

It is made clear in the first reading from Acts of the Apostles, that the early Church had its conflicts.
The widows were among the poor, for whom God had special concern, and for whom Israel was to be concerned.
The concern of the early Christians for the Jewish widows in the community, and their apparent neglect of the Greek widows, gave rise to the conflict described in today’s passage.

Reading II : 1 Peter 2:4-9

Come to the Lord, a living stone.

While the setting of today’s first reading was the daily life of the community gathered around the table, the second reading evokes the temple.
The author of 1 Peter envisioned a new “temple” or place of worship.
Christ Jesus is the cornerstone of this spiritual building and Christians, its building blocks.

Gospel : John 14:1-12

If you know me, you know my father also.

The author of today’s Gospel situated the words of Jesus, “I am the way”; in the context of the meal Jesus shared with his disciples the night before he died.
His words brought comfort in the face of impending distress.
Jesus’ words also gave the disciples direction for the days ahead.