Readings for Sunday – 4/7/24

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new
covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship
of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

FIRST LESSON A Reading from: Acts 4:32-35
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one
claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held
in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person
among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the
proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed
to each as any had need.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God

PSALM: Psalm 133
Ecce, quam bonum!
1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
when brethren live together in unity!
2 It is like fine oil upon the head *
that runs down upon the beard,
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
that falls upon the hills of Zion.
5 For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: *
life for evermore.

THE EPISTLE A Reading from: 1 John 1:1-2:2
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we
have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands,
concerning the word of life– this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify
to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed
to us– we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have
fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son
Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is
the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in
him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while
we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in
the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is
faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if
anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the
sins of the whole world.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God

The Holy GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of
the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus
came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”; After he said this,
he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they
saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has
sent me, so I send you.” When he 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 (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them
when Jesus came. 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.”
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.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 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.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not
written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have
life in his name.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ