Third Sunday of Easter

Today the Church celebrates the Third Sunday of Easter. The assigned readings are Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 John 2:1-5; and Luke 24:35-48. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 4 (Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm (3rd Sunday of Easter) Psalm 4

The Gospel reading is as follows:

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Third Sunday of Easter (April 19, 2015)

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Salesian Sunday Reflection: Third Sunday of Easter (April 19, 2015)

Msgr. Charles Pope: Becoming Witnesses of the Resurrection and the Truth of the Gospel – A Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter (18 APR 15)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: The Easter Ghost

Word on Fire: The Strangeness of the Resurrection (Cycle B * Easter * Week 3)

Dr. Scott Hahn: Understanding the Scriptures (April 19th 2015 - Third Sunday of Easter)

CWR Blog: Preachers who are in love with Christ (19 APR 15)

Spirituality of the Readings: The Rest of the Story (3rd Sunday of Easter)

The Word Embodied: Glorified Bodies (3rd Sunday of Easter)

Historical Cultural Context: Alternate Reality (3rd Sunday of Easter)

Thoughts from the Early Church: Commentary by Augustine (3rd Sunday of Easter)