Search
The First Lessons for the Newly Baptized
-
-
Readings for Sunday Masses in Easter Season, Years A, B & C
Since Easter is our greatest celebration of the year, we celebrate for seven weeks (“a week of Sundays”), with the first eight days each treated as if it was still Easter Sunday. Except for the responsorial psalms, all readings for these Sundays come from the New Testament.
Note: 2023-Liturgical Year A, 2024-Liturgical Year B, 2025-Liturgical Year C
Almost all of the gospel passages in the Easter season come from the Gospel of John. They are chosen specifically to be the first gospel lessons for the neophytes, those adults initiated into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil.
-
-
1st Sunday: Easter Sunday
-
A, B & C ~ John 20:1 - 9
We discuss the Easter Sunday readings in our lectionary guide for the Paschal Triduum.
-
-
2nd Sunday: Two of Jesus' Appearances in the Upper Room
-
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas - Caravaggio
-
A, B & C ~ John 20:19 - 31
Every year, we hear John’s gospel about Jesus’ appearances to the disciples on Easter Sunday (Thomas is absent) and seven days later (Thomas is present). These verses are rich with significance. They speak about doubt and the nature of belief. Verse 23 is often cited as the source of the sacrament of reconciliation. Perhaps that is why, since 2000, the Church has observed the day as Divine Mercy Sunday. Because Jesus breathes on the disciples, we hear a portion of this same passage on Pentecost.
-
-
-
When considering that the Second Sunday of Easter is the first opportunity for mystagogia (lessons for the newly baptized adults), most preachers choose to preach on the issues of doubt and belief. Thomas’ initial doubt is not substantially different from that of Mary of Magdala, Peter, the beloved disciple, or the other disciples earlier in John 20. Here’s a homily that invites us to explore these issues with depth and nuance: "Easy Answers or Fundamental Truths?"
-
-
3rd Sunday: Other Resurrection Appearances
-
A ~ Luke 24:13 - 35, B ~ Luke 24:35 - 48, C ~ John 21:1 - 19
In Year A, we proclaim Jesus’ journey on Easter Sunday with two dejected disciples on their way to Emmaus and in Year B, we hear Luke’s account of Jesus’ appearance and teaching to the disciples in the Upper Room. In Years A & B, Luke emphasizes the nature of Jesus’ physical body and Jesus’ explanation of how his death and resurrection fulfills the Jewish Scriptures. In Year C, we proclaim Jesus’ later appearance to seven disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus’ fireside conversation with Peter is an opportunity for Peter to reconcile with Jesus after denying him three times at another fire on Good Friday (John 18:15-18, 25-27).
-
The Road to Emmaus - Samuel Epperly
-
-
4th Sunday: Good Shepherd Sunday
-
A ~ John 10:1 - 10, B ~ John 10:11 - 18, C ~ John 10:27 - 30
Each year, the gospel passage this day comes from Jesus’ speeches in chapter 10 of the Gospel of John. Jesus uses a number of “I am” statements with extended metaphors—he is the good shepherd, he is the gate protecting the sheep, and he has other sheep elsewhere. Since 1963, the Catholic Church has observed this as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” a time to promote vocations to the priesthood. If you or someone you know has experienced even an inkling of a call to become a priest, please consider learning more about discernment for diocesan priesthood and/or religious order priesthood!
-
-
5th and 6th Sundays: Last Supper Discourse
-
A ~ John 14:1 - 12 & 15 - 21, B ~ John 15:1 - 8 & 9 - 17, C ~ John 13:31 - 35 & 14:23 - 29
In John’s gospel, 5 of the 21 chapters concern the evening of the Last Supper, including an extensive discourse in which Jesus returns to the same topics multiple times. In Year A, Jesus tells the disciples that “I am the way and the truth and the life,” and that he is going to prepare a place in his Father’s house for them. In Year B, Jesus gives the extended “I am the vine, you are the branches” metaphor. In Years B and C, Jesus gives his new commandment for the disciples to love one another as he loved them. In Years A and C, Jesus foretells the coming of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.
-
-
7th Sunday: The Ascension or The Priestly Prayer
-
Ascension: A ~ Matthew 28:16 - 20, B ~ Mark 16:15 - 20, C ~ Luke 24:46 - 53
In the Diocese of Austin and in most of the United States, the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday of Easter (May 16 in 2021). Each year on the solemnity, we proclaim one of the synoptic gospels’ account of Jesus’ final instructions to the disciples after his resurrection. The first reading is always Acts 1:1 - 11. Together, the gospel passage and the Acts passage capture the essence of our mission as the Church, commissioned by Christ to be his Body in the world today. -
The Priestly Prayer: A ~ John 17:1 - 11, B ~ John 17:11 - 19, C ~ John 17:20 - 26
Six ecclesiastical provinces in the United States celebrate the solemnity on its traditional day, the 40th day of Easter, the Thursday of the 6th week. In these places, the gospel passages for the 7th Sunday of Easter feature the extended “Priestly Prayer” that Jesus offers at the conclusion of the Last Supper.
In this prayer, Jesus prays to the Father for the disciples he leaves behind, that “they may all be one” (John 17:21). Many Christians see this passage at the heart of the ministry of ecumenism, the work of building unity among Christian denominations.
-
-
Pentecost
-
A, B & C ~ John 20:19 - 23
Our readings throughout the season of Easter have been leading to this culmination, the great Solemnity of Pentecost. With the arrival of the Holy Spirit, God makes it possible for us as Church to work together to live out the lessons of the past seven weeks. While the lectionary gives options for the readings of Pentecost – including a dramatic, extended vigil similar to the Easter Vigil – we most often proclaim Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; and John 20:19-23.
Pentecost was the Greek name for Shavuot, the Jewish Feast of Weeks. It commemorated God’s giving the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Shavuot took place seven weeks after Passover, and the people celebrated with the first fruits from the year’s harvest. Since Jesus’ Ascension, the disciples had spent their days in the Upper Room singing psalms and sharing stories of their interactions with Jesus. Now, they were ready to burst forth and spread the gospel to the farthest ends of the earth. Surely, the significance of the Holy Spirit descending on the feast of Shavuot was not lost on the first disciples!
-
-
FIRST READINGS: The Acts of the Apostles
-
All the first readings of the Easter season come from the Acts of the Apostles. Most Sunday readings are from chapters 1 - 7, detailing the earliest days of Christianity within the city of Jerusalem. In each year, we hear at least one story from Acts about the spread of Christianity beyond Jerusalem. In Year A on the 6th Sunday, we hear about Philip’s missionary work in Samaria (chapter 8). In Year B on the 5th and 6th Sundays, we hear of Paul’s earliest days preaching the Gospel (chapter 9) and Peter’s baptism of the first Gentiles (chapter 10). In Year C on the 4th, 5th, and 6th Sundays, we hear about Paul’s early missionary travels (chapters 13 - 15).
At daily Masses during the Easter season, we get a more thorough sampling of passages from the Acts of the Apostles. We recommend consulting this page to learn more.
-
-
SECOND READINGS: various books of the New Testament
-
In Year A we hear from 1 Peter, in Year B from 1 John, and in Year C from Revelation.
-
