Wounds That Heal - 4.28.19 The Rev. Vincent Pizzuto, Ph.D.

Second Sunday of Easter The 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: Acts 5:27-32 27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us.' 29But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.' Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150 14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *        and he has become my salvation. 15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *        in the tents of the righteous: 16 "The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *        the right hand of the Lord is exalted!        the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!" 17 I shall not die, but live, *        and declare the works of the Lord. 18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *        but he did not hand me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *        I will enter them;        I will offer thanks to the Lord. 20 "This is the gate of the Lord; *        he who is righteous may enter." 21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *        and have become my salvation. 22 The same stone which the builders rejected *        has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord's doing, *        and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 On this day the Lord has acted; *        we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! *        Lord, send us now success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *        we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *        form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar. 28 "You are my God, and I will thank you; *        you are my God, and I will exalt you." 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *        his mercy endures for ever. Epistle: Revelation 1:4-8 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds;    every eye will see him, even those who pierced him;    and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. 8 'I am the Alpha and the Omega', says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Gospel: John 20:19-31 19 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.' 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.' 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.' 26 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.' 27Then 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.' 28Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' 29Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.' 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But 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.