An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - April 26, 2026
“The Sheep Follow Him Because They Recognize His Voice”
Now that we are almost half way through our Easter season, our readings are beginning to prepare us for the mystery of Pentecost. It is the
great enlightening that gave the apostles and early disciples the wisdom, grace, and courage to proclaim the risen Christ as the primacy of our salvation. They did this despite all manner of suffering and persecutions, following Jesus as the model.
Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:14, 36-41)is from St. Peter’s first homily at Pentecost. In it, he stressed the forgiveness that is offered to everyone through the sacraments, even “those far off” Gentiles, even those who crucified Jesus. “Repent and be baptized . . for the forgiveness of your sins”. Peter’s words had great effect, as about three thousand persons were baptized that day.
Our Epistle reading (1 Peter 2:20-25)offers Christ as the model for patient suffering as “a grace before God”. Peter’s words echoed those of the Prophet Isaiah’s Suffering Servant (Is 53:4-8), “When He was insulted, He returned no insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten . . . He bore the punishment that makes us whole….”
In our Gospel reading (John 10-1-10)we hear the beginning of Jesus’ Good Shepherd Discourse. Jesus spoke to the Pharisees using a metaphor of Himself as the good shepherd and the gate. “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” In this figure of speech, Jesus is the true shepherd, who is the one who will lead us to eternal life. We are His sheep and we know His voice; we follow Him.
The lament of the Jews on hearing the words of Peter on the day of Pentecost was, “What are we to do, my brothers?” This may be our lament, too, as we recall the times we turned away from Jesus. The words of Peter should be as comforting to us. We should honor our baptism, repent, and be reconciled; believing that Jesus is the “guardian of our souls” and will forgive us and lead us “through the gate” to eternal life.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042626.cfm
An Introduction to the Sunday Scripture Readings - April 19, 2026
“Were Not Our Hearts On Fire Within Us?”
Our readings today meet us on our journey (sojourn) back to the Father and lead us to the risen Christ.
Our first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:14,22-33). It is perhaps the first ever homily on the risen Christ. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, spoke boldly with the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter explained the link between King David of old and the promise God made to raise up an heir who would reign from his throne forever. "One can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ…”
In our Epistle reading (1 Peter 1:17-21). St. Peter encouraged his Gentile Christian audience at a time of suffering and “sojourning” on their journey back to the Father. They were admonished to invoke the Father and act with reverence. “Conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct...”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 24:13:35) is the beautiful story of two dejected disciples who encounter Jesus as they leave Jerusalem on the first Easter Sunday. This is a
wonderful parallel to the Mass, presided over by Christ Himself. It has the two main elements of the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word, as Jesus opened the Scriptures to them, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, as they finally recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
“And it happened that, while He was with them at table, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?’"
Every time we attend Mass, Jesus reveals Himself to us through the scriptures as we hear the word of God proclaimed to us. Then, through the persona of the priest, Jesus blesses the bread, says the blessing, breaks it, and gives it to us. How could we not recognize Him as He comes to us each day at Mass. One question we might ask ourselves today is, “Is there anything preventing me from recognizing Jesus as He comes to meet me on the road?
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041926.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - April 12, 2026
“As The Father Has Sent Me, So I Send You”
In our readings today, we hear of the events and teachings of the very early days of the Church, both when Jesus was still with His disciples and immediately after His Ascension. We take this opportunity to celebrate God's boundless love in offering His only begotten Son for the sake of our sins.
Our first reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:42-47), which is the story of the formation and spread of the early Church. In today's passage, we hear how, from the earliest days, the Church came together and “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.” It should be noted that the “breaking of the bread” (Eucharist) was a communal practice from the very beginning of the Church.
Our Epistle reading is from the opening of the First Letter of St. Peter (1 Peter 1:3-9). Peter wrote to the churches in Asia Minor encouraging them to fidelity in spite of their suffering. This is a letter filled with the joy, faith, and hope of the Resurrection. St. Peter’s words could never be more true than today, at Easter, “Although you have not seen Him you love Him; even though you do not see Him now yet believe in Him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy…”. This is us, this is now!
Our Gospel reading(John 20:19-31)has two distinct messages. One is the institution of the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the priesthood. He said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” The other message is the story of the apostle Thomas, who demanded to touch the wounds of Jesus before he would believe that Jesus has risen. It is a call to faith, which by its very nature is a belief in someone or something we have not yet seen.
During this fifty-day season of Easter until Pentecost Sunday, we get to hear the continuing saga of the formation of the early church. We will hear of Jesus' appearances to His disciples after His resurrection and will hear again some of His final words to His disciples just before His passion and death. The Church gives us this time to reflect and pray on "What just happened" in Christ's death and glorious resurrection. May we take this opportunity to come to know and love Jesus, the person, all the more.
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041226.cfm
An Introduction to Sunday's Scripture Readings - December 25
“AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US”
Our readings for Christmas Mass at night draw a direct connection between what Isaiah prophesied more than 500
years before Christ was born and what took place that Christmas night when the prophesy was fulfilled in all its humble glory.
In our first reading (Isaiah 9:1-6), we hear the prophesy of Isaiah that is proclaimed every Christmas Eve night - God's own Son will come to deliver us. "For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever.”
In our Epistle (Titus 2:11-14), St. Paul leads us to remember that Christ promised to come again and will deliver us from all lawlessness. Paul teaches us how to live while we await the return of Jesus our Savior. “The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ.”
Our Gospel reading (Luke 2:1-14) is the account of Jesus' humble birth as Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to register for the census of the house of David. The first to bear witness were the lowly shepherds from the surrounding hillsides.
The birth of the Jesus the Messiah was not just something that happened a long time ago. It was an event foretold for centuries and awaited fervently by the people of Israel. From the moment of Jesus' birth to his tragic death and triumphant resurrection, he was the embodiment of humility, patience, and love. It is how he calls us to live "temperately, justly and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope."
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122523-night.cfm
Click 'Read more' for the reflection on the Christmas Day readings.