SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH, 2026
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER​

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INTRODUCTION​

In today’s gospel the risen Christ appears to the disciples and offers them the gift
     of peace. Even amid doubts and questions, we experience the resurrection in our
     Sunday gathering around word and meal, and in our everyday lives. Throughout
     the coming Sundays of Easter the first two readings will be from the Acts of the
     Apostles and the first letter of Peter. Even as the early Christians proclaimed the
     resurrection, we rejoice in the new birth and living hope we receive in baptism.​

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of
     those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith in you and receive the
     fullness of Christ’s blessing, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
     one God, now and forever. Amen.​

FIRST READING

ACTS 2:14a.22-32
After the Holy Spirit comes to the apostles on Pentecost, Peter preaches the
     gospel to the gathered crowd. He tells them that Jesus, who obediently went to
     his death according to God’s plan, was raised from the dead by God. Finally, he
     appeals to scripture, quoting Psalm 16:8-11, to show that Jesus is the Messiah:
     though crucified, the risen Jesus is now enthroned.
 
14(a) Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed [the crowd]:
     22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man
     attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did
     through him among you, as you yourselves know 23 this man, handed over to
     you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and
     killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having
     released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be
     held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him,
     ‘I saw the Lord always before me,
     for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
     26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
     moreover, my flesh will live in hope.
     27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades
     or let your Holy One experience corruption.
     28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
     you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

     29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he 
     both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a
     prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one
     of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the
     resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
     ‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
     nor did his flesh experience corruption.’

     32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”

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PSALM

PSALM 16
(Response) In your presence there is fullness of joy. (Ps. 16:11)

1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you;
I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good above all other.”
2 All my delight is in the godly that are in the land,
upon those who are noble among the people.
3 But those who run after other gods
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4 I will not pour out drink offerings to such gods,
never take their names upon my lips.
(Response) In your presence there is fullness of joy. (Ps. 16:11)

5 O Lord, you are my portion and my cup;
it is you who uphold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;
indeed, I have a rich inheritance.
7 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
my heart teaches me night after night.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because God is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
(Response) In your presence there is fullness of joy. (Ps. 16:11)

9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;
my body also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor let your holy one see the pit.
11 You will show me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy,

   and in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(Response) In your presence there is fullness of joy. (Ps. 16:11)

SECOND READING

1ST PETER 1:3-9
This epistle was written to encourage Christians experiencing hardships and
     suffering because of their faith in Christ. The letter opens by blessing God for the
     living hope we have through Christ’s resurrection even amid difficult
     circumstances and surroundings.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he
     has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
     Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and
     unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God
     through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you
     rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that
     the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though
     perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor
     when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him,
     and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an
     indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith,
     the salvation of your souls.​

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​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. Alleluia. (John 20:29)

GOSPEL READING

JOHN 20:19-31
The risen Jesus appears to his disciples, offering them a benediction, a
     commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But one of their number is missing,
     and his unbelief prompts another visit from the Lord.

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were
     locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
     among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed
     them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
     21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I
     send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
     “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;
     if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

     24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them
     when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”
     But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my
     finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
     26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with
     them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and
     said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and
     see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but
     believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him,
     “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have
     not seen and yet have come to believe.”

     30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not
     written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe
     that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may
     have life in his name.​

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