WEEKLY READINGS

The First Lesson

Acts 1:3-5, 12-14

Reader: The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Jesus presented himself to the disciples, living, after his suffering through many convincing proofs, by appearing to them forty days and speaking about the reign of God. And staying with them, Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, rather to wait there for the promise of the Faithful One, "what you heard from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from this one."

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. And when they entered the city, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were persevering in prayer together with women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his [sisters and] brothers.

Reader: Word of God, word of life.

People: Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 41:1-4, 12-13

1. Happy is the woman who has understanding of the poor;

the Faithful One delivers her in a day bringing evil.

2. The Sheltering God protects her and keeps her alive;

she is called happy in the land.

You will not hand her over to the desire of her enemies.

3. The Compassionate God sustains her on her sickbed;

her every bedridden infirmity, you shall heal.

4. Now I, I said, "Merciful God, be gracious to me;

heal my soul, for I have sinned against you."

12. Yet even me, because of my integrity, you have upheld me,

and set me in your presence forever.

13. Blessed be the Fire of Sinai, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.

The Gospel

John 20:19-31

Celebrant: The Holy Gospel according to John.

People: Glory to you, O Lord.

When it was evening on that day, the first of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples were closed for fear of the Judeans, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you all." And having said this, Jesus showed them his hands and his side, and then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Messiah. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you all, just as the Living God has sent me, so I send you all." When Jesus had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit; if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas, one of the twelve who was called Didymus (the Twin) was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Messiah." 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."

And within eight days his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors were shut, and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you all." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands. Bring your hand and put it in my side and do not doubt, rather believe." Thomas answered him, saying, "My Savior and my God." Jesus said to him, "Was it because you have seen me that you believed? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

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

Celebrant: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, O Christ.

From A Woman's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year W by Wilda C. Gafney