Readings for this Sunday:
Acts 4:32–35
Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24 (Rx 1 or Alleluia)
1 John 5:1–6
John 20:19–31
On my travels, I often receive requests from concerned parents asking me to pray for one or more of their children who have lost faith. Their sadness is tangible and free of anger or resentment. They simply want their child to come home to Jesus.
As children, we are handed our faith, and at some point, we must make it our own through our ongoing conversion to Christ. That process is at times painful, leaving scars of doubt. Yet the Risen One’s appearance to the disciples, wounds fully on display, proclaims that the resurrected Christ we believe in will always and only be known as Jesus crucified. Resurrection does not erase suffering, expecting us to believe as children do, uncritically. Rather Christ’s glorified wounds sanctify ours, including those of our struggles with faith.
For those saddened by a loved one’s abandonment of faith, the work of Scripture scholar Sandra Schneiders, IHM, on this passage may be a comfort. Analyzing the Greek, she understands Christ’s words regarding forgiveness to mean that what is retained, or held onto, is not the sin but the person.
Christ, by his own wounds, holds on to those who have lost faith. And we, the body of Christ, by our ongoing care, hold on to them as well. In Christ’s body, no one is lost.
–Diana Macalintal
Suggested Music
O filii et filiae / O Sons and Daughters
Arr. Robert Farrell
G-9245 · SATB, organ, opt. Brass Quartet
O Sons and Daughters
Arr. John Ferguson
G-4547 · SATB, tambourine, 8 handbells
O Sons and Daughters
Arr. Richard Proulx
G-4552 · SATB
O Sons and Daughters
Arr. William Tortolano
G-5269 · SATB
We Walk by Faith (DUNLAP’S CREEK)
Arr. David Lasky
G-9519 · SATB, organ, opt. assembly
We Walk by Faith (DUNLAP’S CREEK)
Arr. Dennis R. Johnson
G-9843 · SAB, cantor, assembly, flute, violin, cello
Be My Hands and Feet
Tony Alonso, text by Mary Louise Bringle
G-8901· SATB, assembly, keyboard, guitar, flute, cello
MYSTAGOGY MOMENT:
“See my hands and feet, said Jesus, love arisen from the grave. Be my hands and feet said Jesus, live as ones I died to save.”
Jesus beckons “doubting” Thomas to come to touch Jesus’s hands and put his hand in Jesus’s side so that he will believe that Jesus has risen. We don’t have the same proof that Thomas had of Jesus’s resurrection, but our actions and the way we treat others can serve as proof of Jesus living on in our hearts. Our lives are witness to God’s love and presence in the world. When we are sent out at the end of mass “to love and to serve the Lord,” we are sent to be the hands and feet of Jesus for all those we encounter. When you leave mass what do you take with you? Do your hands and feet mimic those of Jesus?
–Victoria Zibell
More suggestions for the Second Sunday of Easter…
A New Commandment Michael Ward • SATB, descant, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar, flute • 007679
A New Commandment Gerald Phillips • SATB, cantor, keyboard • 009459
A New Commandment Steven Janco • Unison voices, assembly, keyboard • 005773
Acts of God Rory Cooney• SATB, solo, keyboard, guitar • G-8756
Along This Holy Way Chris de Silva• SATB, cantor, solo, assembly, keyboard, guitar • G-8672
Come to the Living Stone Karen Schneider Kirner, Steven C. Warner • SATB a cappella, descant, percussion • 007243
Holy Spirit Alleluia: Gospel Acclamation and Verses for the Easter Season Arr. Rob Glover • SATB, cantor, assembly, organ • G-8699
I Saw Water Flowing / Alleluia: Rite of Sprinkling and Gospel Acclamation for Eastertide James Biery • Unison with descant, SATB, cantor, assembly, organ • G-8469
In God I Trust James V. Marchionda, OP • SATB, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • 008926
Jesus Be Known to Us Janet Sullivan Whitaker • SATB, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • 009006
Love One Another Tony Alonso • Two-part choir, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • 005805
O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing Arr. Jennifer Durham • SAB, organ, chimes • 009045
Rejoice and Be Glad W. Clifford Petty • SATB, cantor, assembly, keyboard • 001275
Something Beautiful John Angotti • Three-part choir, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • 008092
This is the Day David Sanders • Two-part choir, cantor, assembly, keyboard • 006326
This Is the Day Gary Daigle • SAB, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • G-9844
This Is the Day Steven Van Wye • SATB, cantor, solo, assembly, keyboard, guitar • G-8399
This is the Day: Psalm 118 Tom Kaczmarek • SATB, descant, cantor, assembly, keyboard, guitar • 006130
This is the Day / O Spirit of the Living God Paul French • SATB, keyboard • 008741
Veni, Creator Spiritus (VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS) Arr. Keith S. Kalemba • Three-part choir a cappella • 009605
