EASTER WEEK 2 THURSDAY
16-APR-2026 Readings
1ST READING: Acts 5:27-33
In those days: When the officers had brought the apostles, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him." When they heard this they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
The Word of The Lord!
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 34
📢 R. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him. or ALLELUIA.
I will bless the Lord at all times, praise of him is always in my mouth. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.
R. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him. or ALLELUIA.
The Lord turns his face against the wicked to destroy their remembrance from the earth. When the just cry out, the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress.
R. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him. or ALLELUIA.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save. Many are the trials of the just man, but from them all the Lord will rescue him.
*R. The lowly one called, and the Lord heard him. or ALLELUIA.*
The Word of The Lord!
ACCLAMATION: John 20:29
R. ALLELUIA.
You believed, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
R. ALLELUIA.
GOSPEL John 3:31-36
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony; he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he who God has sent utters the words of God, for it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit; the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him.
The Gospel of The Lord!
Reflection:
In today's GOSPEL, St John the Baptist testifies to the supremacy and uniqueness of Jesus. He speaks of Jesus as "above all others". St John the Evangelist gives a lot of importance to the experience of God. According to him Jesus has seen and heard everything in heaven and has come to testify to us all that he has heard and seen. St John the Baptist, before his own disciples, in all humility proclaimed this uniqueness and incomparability of Jesus. Following this, in 1John 1:1-3 St John also presents the disciples of Jesus as persons who have heard, seen, and touched the reality of the Incarnation and the Paschal Mystery accomplished in Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, I trust in you.
