Third Sunday in Easter - May 4, 2025
Such a simple, yet stinging question. An inquiry that strikes at the heart of any relationship. Do you love me? This is a challenge that cannot be wished away, faked or ignored. It is a question that demands an answer, one of trust and reassurance.
FIRST READING In Acts 5, Peter and John were put on trial before the Sanhedrin for preaching the Good News. Their answer to the charges was guilt before the officials, but innocence before God. After all, they were doing God's will.
PSALM Psalm 30 celebrated a return to health, the recovery from illness and/or the restoration of the nation.
SECOND READING Revelations 5 presented the praise of the heavenly throng. That praise even included the worship of nature itself. All creation hailed the Father and the Son, the enthroned Lamb.
GOSPEL In John 21, Jesus appears to Peter with a question: “Do you love me?" Love, in this context, meant devotion to the followers of the Lord, even to the point of death.
DAILY READINGS for the Second Week of Easter.
FEAST OF STS. PHILIP AND JAMES May 3, 2025
CHILDREN'S READINGS In the story for the first reading, competitive Sally stood up to a cheat in a kick ball game. She suffered for her convictions, just like Peter and John did when they proclaimed the Good News. In the story for the gospel, Judy promised to visit her grandmother. When she wavered, her grandmother asked a simple question: “Do you love me?" That question changed Sally, in the same way it changed Peter. It made both understand the responsibilities of love.
CATECHISM LINK In this week's Catechism Link, we discuss the nature of God's revelation.
FAMILY ACTIVITY To answer the question Jesus posed to Peter, create a “We Love Jesus" poster. On the poster write ways your family can love each other, the way Jesus told Peter to love the Lord's followers.