[Propertalk] READINGS for the SECOND SUNDAY of EASTER

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, April 19, 
according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, 
Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All 
readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the 
Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries 
are identical to the RCL for this day.

If the OT alternative is used for the C of E, the Acts reading should be 
used for the second reading.

The readings are posted on our web site: <http://satucket.com/lectionary>, 
in RTF format, which can be read by all word processors.



FIRST READING:  Acts 4: 32 - 35  (RCL, Roman Catholic)

Acts 4:32 (NRSV) Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart 
and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but 
everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles 
gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace 
was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many 
as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was 
sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each 
as any had need.


Exodus 14: 10 - 30, 15: 20 - 21   (alt. for C of E)

Exod 14:10 (NRSV) As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and 
there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites 
cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no 
graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What 
have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the very thing 
we told you in Egypt, "Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it 
would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the 
wilderness." 13 But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, 
and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the 
Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will 
fight for you, and you have only to keep still."
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the 
Israelites to go forward. 16 But you lift up your staff, and stretch out 
your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the 
sea on dry ground. 17 Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that 
they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh 
and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. 18 And the 
Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory for myself 
over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers."
19 The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went 
behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took 
its place behind them. 20 It came between the army of Egypt and the army of 
Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the 
night; one did not come near the other all night.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea 
back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and 
the waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, 
the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23 The 
Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's 
horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch the LORD in 
the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw 
the Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged {Sam Gk Syr: MT [removed] } 
their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians 
said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them 
against Egypt."
26 {The Pursuers Drowned} Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your 
hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon 
their chariots and chariot drivers." 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over 
the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians 
fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters 
returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army 
of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 
But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming 
a wall for them on their right and on their left.
30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw 
the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the 
LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed 
in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

15:20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her 
hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with 
dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:
""Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea."



PSALM 133   (RCL)

Psal 133:1 (NRSV) How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the LORD ordained his blessing,
life forevermore.


Psalm 118: 2 - 4, 13 - 15, 22 - 24   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 118:2 (NRSV) Let Israel say,
""His steadfast love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
""His steadfast love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say,
""His steadfast love endures forever."

13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
""The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;

22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.


SECOND READING:  1 John 1: 1 - 2: 2   (RCL)

1Joh 1:1 (NRSV) We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have 
heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched 
with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 2 this life was revealed, and 
we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that 
was with the Father and was revealed to us-- 3 we declare to you what we 
have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly 
our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are 
writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God 
is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have 
fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do 
what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, 
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses 
us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and 
the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and 
just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If 
we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in 
us. 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may 
not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus 
Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and 
not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.


1 John 5: 1 - 6   (Roman Catholic)

1Joh 5:1 (NRSV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born 
of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know 
that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his 
commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. 
And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God 
conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our 
faith. 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that 
Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the 
water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that 
testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.


GOSPEL:  John 20: 19 - 31    (all)

John 20:19 (NRSV) 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." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then 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 When he 
had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy 
Spirit. 23 If 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. 25 So 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." 27 Then 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." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus 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. 31 But 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.



Chad Wohlers
East Bridgewater, Mass.   USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu