This document is a comprehensive reflection on the biblical readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2014, focusing on the characteristics and practices of the early Christian community, the significance of new birth through resurrection, and the importance of belief in the risen Christ. It emphasizes communal living, prayer, and joy amidst trials, and concludes with insights on developing homilies that encourage faith, generosity, and community engagement. The document also highlights the role of the Eucharist as a source of strength and connection to the risen Christ.

1. Welcome to our Bible
Study
2nd Sunday of Easter A
27 April 2014
Divine Mercy Sunday
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: Acts 2:42-47
 42 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the
apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the
bread and to the prayers. 43 Awe came upon
everyone, and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together
and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their
property and possessions and divide them among all
according to each one's need. 46 Every day they devoted
themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to
breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with
exultation and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and
enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord
added to their number those who were being saved.
The focus is on the first Christian community.

3. 1st reading: Acts 2:42-47
The Prayer Life of the Early Community
 42 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the
communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
The awesome effect
 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done
through the apostles.
The Common Life
 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they
would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according
to each one's need.
The Prayer Life Again
 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation
and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
Multiplication of Members
 And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
A simple outline!

4. 1st reading: Acts 2:42-47
The Prayer Life of the Early
Community
 42 They devoted themselves to the
teaching of the apostles and to the
communal life, to the breaking of the
bread and to the prayers.
The awesome effect
 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many
wonders and signs were done through
the apostles.
The Common Life
 44 All who believed were together and
had all things in common; 45 they
would sell their property and
possessions and divide them among all
according to each one's need.
The Prayer Life Again
 46 Every day they devoted themselves
to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and
sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and
enjoying favor with all the people.
Multiplication of Members
 And every day the Lord added to their
number those who were being saved.
Commentary
V.42 describes the characteristics of
the early Church, to whom the
apostles preached.
 They become devoted to:
 The teaching of the apostles
 The communal life
 The breaking of the bread
(eucharist)
 The prayers (supposedly psalms)
V.43 describes the effect of the early
Christian community.
 Having a sense of awe is a
religious experience. It is a sign of
holiness, God is taking hold of
you.
 The apostles are still instruments
of God’s wonders and signs.

5. 1st reading: Acts 2:42-47
The Prayer Life of the Early
Community
 42 They devoted themselves to the
teaching of the apostles and to the
communal life, to the breaking of the
bread and to the prayers.
The awesome effect
 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many
wonders and signs were done through
the apostles.
The Common Life
 44 All who believed were together and
had all things in common; 45 they
would sell their property and
possessions and divide them among all
according to each one's need.
The Prayer Life Again
 46 Every day they devoted themselves
to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and
sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and
enjoying favor with all the people.
Multiplication of Members
 And every day the Lord added to their
number those who were being saved.
 In v.44, the early Christians live a
community life and have their things in
common, without being told by the
apostles.
 Their belief in the risen Christ (thru the
preaching of the apostles) drives them to
be more fraternal to each other.
 In v.45, they do more by selling their
property and possessions (poverty,
detachment) and divide according to
each one’s need (justice).
 V.46 picks up again v.42. The apostles
go to the temple (to pray) and to their
homes (for the eucharist).
 They eat with joy and sincere
hearts.
 V.47 describes further the prayer life of
the community.
 V.47 speaks of the giftedness of the
community:
 more new members.

6. Reflections on the 1st reading
 The reading teaches how to live in a community
centered in Christ.
 The basic characteristics of the Christian community are:
 Fraternal, dependent on one another (synergy)
 Docile to the teachings of the apostles
 Detached from personal possessions and properties
 Prayerful
 Celebrative, loves the eucharist
 Joyful
 These characteristics should be found also in our homes.
 These are concrete responses to the kerygma
(preaching of the apostles).

7. 2nd reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
New birth
 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for you 5 who by the power of
God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is
ready to be revealed in the final time.
Rejoice
 6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you
may have to suffer through various trials, 7 so that the
genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is
perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for
praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8
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, 9 as you attain the goal
of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls.
The focus is on the new birth of Christians.

8. 2nd reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
New birth
 3 Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us
a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, 4
to an inheritance that is
imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for
you 5 who by the power of
God are safeguarded through
faith, to a salvation that is
ready to be revealed in the
final time.
Commentary
 Vv.3-5. The focus is actually
on God and Father of Jesus.
 Jesus is God’s instrument to
save us.
 The resurrection of Christ
brings about our new birth.
 We are born again
 to a living hope
 to a lasting
inheritance.
 The resurrection of Jesus
has brought about many
gifts
(inheritance, protection, salv
ation)

9. 2nd reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Rejoice
 6 In this you rejoice, although
now for a little while you may
have to suffer through various
trials, 7 so that the
genuineness of your
faith, more precious than gold
that is perishable even though
tested by fire, may prove to be
for praise, glory, and honor at
the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 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, 9 as you attain the goal of
(your) faith, the salvation of
your souls.
 Vv.6-7 indicate that the
Christians are suffering
from persecution.
 The author interprets
their sufferings as tests
to make their faith
stronger.
 The Christians are more
praiseworthy, when
they pass the test.
 Joy must be the
constant disposition of
Christians in the midst
of trials because God
has promised them a
great reward. Vv.8-9

10. Reflections on the 2nd reading
 Faith in the Risen Lord does not free us from
trials and sufferings.
 Sufferings are meant to purify our faith.
 We should not take offense at our undeserved
pains.
 We should see them as only transitory and
purificatory.
 Our new birth, through the resurrection of Christ,
gives us great promises to hope for.

11. Gospel reading: John 20:19-31
 19 On the evening of that
first day of the week, when
the doors were locked,
where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews, Jesus
came and stood in their
midst and said to them,
"Peace be with you." 20
When he had said this, he
showed them his hands and
his side. The disciples
rejoiced when they saw the
Lord. 21 (Jesus) said to
them again, "Peace be with
you. As the Father has sent
me, so I send you." 22 And
when he had said this, he
breathed on them and said
to them, "Receive the holy
Spirit. 23 Whose sins you
forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain
are retained."
Commentary
 V.19 indicates that the apostles are
together in one place.
 They fear for their lives.
 The Jews are trying to get them too.
 In the midst of their fears, Jesus appears
to them, defying locked doors, greeting
them with “Peace be with you.”
 Then Jesus shows them his hands and
side (not feet).
 The disciples rejoice at his appearance.
 The sight of the resurrected Jesus takes
away their fear.
 In v.21, Jesus repeats his greetings of
peace, but this time a responsibility is
attached.
 They will be sent (move away from hiding)
and will come out into the open.
 They will forgive sins. Will they not die?
Are their enemies gone?
 The risen Christ is in-charge of the situation.

12.  24 Thomas, called
Didymus, one of the
Twelve, was not with
them when Jesus came.
25 So the other
disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks
and put my hand into
his side, I will not
believe."
 Thomas was absent when
Jesus appeared. So they
report to him the appearance
of Jesus.
 He has missed the
opportunity.
 But before believing, he wants
to see Jesus physically and
touch his hands / fingers onto
his wounds.
 Thomas wants to see and
touch, in order to believe.
 It takes a toll on Jesus and the
apostles, when one is absent
in an important event.

13.  26 Now a week later
his disciples were
again inside and
Thomas was with
them. Jesus came,
although the doors
were locked, and stood
in their midst and said,
"Peace be with you."
27 Then he said to
Thomas, "Put your
finger here and see my
hands, and bring your
hand and put it into
my side, and do not be
unbelieving, but
believe." 28 Thomas
answered and said to
him, "My Lord and my
God!"
 In v.26, the disciples are,
again, are found in one place.
 Thomas is with them this
time.
 Jesus comes again, defying
barriers, and greets them.
 “Peace” for the third time.
 In v.27, Jesus immediately
addresses himself to Thomas.
 Jesus knows his needs. He
helps him to believe.
 In v.28, Thomas articulates
his faith, “My Lord and my
God.”

14.  29 Jesus said to him,
"Have you come to
believe because you have
seen me? Blessed are
those who have not seen
and have believed." 30
Now Jesus did many other
signs in the presence of
(his) disciples that are not
written in this book. 31
But these are written that
you may (come to)
believe that Jesus is the
Messiah, the Son of God,
and that through this
belief you may have life in
his name.
 In v.29, Jesus rebukes Thomas
for believing only with the aid
of his physical eyes.
 Jesus commends people who
will believe even if they have
not seen (or touched) him.
 Belief (faith) allows us to see
the mystery of the Risen
Christ.
 Vv.30-31 contain notes of the
author regarding signs
(miracles), which Jesus had
done after his resurrection.
 Those that are written are
intended to induce us to
believe, in order to have life
eternal.

15. Reflections on the gospel reading
 In order to believe, we must not be too hard on
those who proclaim the faith.
 Jesus considers blessed those who believe even
if they have not seen (or touched) him.
 For us who have been taught, who have
frequently listened to his words and received
him in the sacrament, should not find it hard to
believe.
 We manifest our belief by our courage to give
witness to our faith.

16. Tying the 3 readings
 The first reading describes how the early believers live
their faith in the risen Lord. They form a community,
exercising fraternal concern for one another, sharing their
resources.
 The second reading encourages Christians to rejoice in
the midst of trials because they have been born anew
through the resurrection of Christ, who promises them
eternal life.
 The gospel reading demands that we stop being
skeptical, but to live our faith in the risen Lord.

17. How to develop your homily / sharing
 What is the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus
according to the readings?
From the 1st reading:
 It is an invitation to be fraternal, to treat fellow believers
as brothers and sisters, to practice chastity.
 It is an invitation to share one’s belongings and assets, to
practice poverty.
 It is an invitation to a life of prayer and docility, to
practice obedience.
 It is an abandonment of the life of seclusion, isolation
and selfishness.

18. From the second reading:
 The resurrection of Christ is an invitation for us
to face trials, to willingly undergo sufferings and
persecutions, to purify our faith.
 Christ’s resurrection does not free us from the
burden of suffering.
 Instead, it should serve as our hope. It contains
something to look forward to. The reward is
great and will be long lasting.
 Therefore, a Christian should rejoice always.

19. From the gospel reading:
 It is an invitation to believe, even if there are no
supporting papers, facts and figures or videos.
 The fear removed and the joy that the
witnesses feel should be enough evidence that
Jesus is alive.
 There should be only one doubtingThomas. One
is enough.
 Jesus commends people, who believe readily.
 Faith is a gift. We must recognize that gift.

20.  What is the meaning of the resurrection of Christ
for us today?
 It is a force that should drive us
 To form ecclesial communities (BECs)
 To promote social justice
 To work for integral evangelization
 To rise above our fears and sins
 To keep our lights burning
 To keep our hopes
 in the midst of discontent, fragmentation, chaos
and confusion.

21.  Our parishioners, especially the leaders,
must be formed according to the BEC
spirit.
 No one should be allowed to chair a
ministry or committee if he/she is not
generous.
 Leaders, servant-leaders should not act like
indigents. (They cannot move or act if the parish does
not give them money to xerox some papers, etc.; can’t
come for meetings if the parish can’t refund their
transportation fares; can’t communicate with their
members if the parish does not give them load for their
cellphone, etc.; during agapes, they bring empty
containers to take home food.)

22.  The eucharist is the sacrament through which we
encounter the risen Christ.
 In the eucharist, the risen Christ is manifested to us
to dispel our fears and to give us joy.
 The eucharist strengthens us in our trials and
sufferings and helps us to bear the pain because of
Jesus’ promises for a better future. He teaches us to
be generous.

23. Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Scepticism
 Fear
 No drive to give witness
 Can’t see the meaning of
the resurrection of Jesus
in their lives
 Terrorism
 Cowardice
 Egoistic
 Individualistic
 BECs, Ugnayan
 Spirituality of
Stewardship
 Service oriented
 Heroism
 Martyrdom
 Communitarian
 Other-centered
 PCP II

24. Suggested Songs
 Maghandog ng Alay
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRWqJuXVAP0
 Buhay Maging Maligaya
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh0VyqcYK3I
 Sharing
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ij6D6EyeI