2nd Sunday of Easter  - Year C

Gospel for the day - 2nd Sunday of Easter

John 20:19-31

Eight days later, Jesus came.


On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’


Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord’. But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.


Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.


Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.



Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested  in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us.         cluster.alpha@outlook.com



Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


No commentary/questions for reflection due to Easter break.



Prayers of Intercession


As we continue to celebrate the Resurrection and celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, we lovingly remember Pope Francis, whom we laid to rest this weekend. He tirelessly proclaimed God’s mercy. He made the defence of the planet, the plight of migrants and building peace through dialogue the pillars of his papacy. May we emulate him in living out his vision of a humbler church. 

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life


For Pope Francis, may he be enjoying the fullness of everlasting light and life with the Lord to whom he dedicated himself, heart and soul. 

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life


For the Cardinals as they prepare for the coming Conclave. May the Holy Spirit guide their discernment in choosing a worthy successor.

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life


For the whole church, that all who believe in the Risen Christ may follow him faithfully.

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life


For all those newly welcomed into the life of the Church, that they may be united in heart and soul and may they be sign of God’s transforming and merciful love. We particularly pray for Baby Cillian being baptised here today, that by the guidance of his parents Blanche and Liam, Cillian will come to know and love Jesus.

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life


For our own Cluster community, that we may be truly Easter people, filled with joy and new life.

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life


For all who are sick, suffering, those on the Prayer Foundation List and those close to death, that Jesus the Risen Saviour may give them grace and strength. We continue to hold Fr Alex, Fr Mike and Fr Nick in our hearts.

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life


For those who have died recently and all those whose anniversary occurs at this time. May they share in the promise of new life through Christ’s Resurrection.

We remember Pope Francis, Linda Reid, Margaret Hadaway, Mary McAuley, Gerry Monaghan, Mary McCauley, Sr Christine Triay, Elaine Houliston, Anne Reilly, Alex Thomson, and Asok Sen Gupta.

Hear us Risen Lord... Our Resurrection and Life



We will now say together the prayer to be missionary disciples.

Cluster prayer

Lord continue to bless our community in this time of transition.

Help us on our journey to grow from a maintenance church to a missionary church.
Give us the courage to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and prejudice.

Kindle in us the fire of your love that all who come here will find joy, peace and love.

Make this a house of prayer and a gateway to your kingdom.

AMEN

Preparing for next week -  3rd Sunday of Easter

John 21:1-19
‘Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.’

At that time: Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.


Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred metres off.


When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.


When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.’ (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this, he said to him, ‘Follow me.’


This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)


At the start of today's gospel, the disciples are at a loss. The reality of the risen Jesus is beyond their comprehension; they don't know how to fit him into their experience. So they turn to the familiarity of their old ways, fruitless though these may be, looking for safety and a sense of control over the situation. Are we, too, tempted to return to our old ways because the Risen Christ is beyond our understanding and imagination? 


The Resurrection means no turning back. We are called to a new life. We are entrusted with a mission. Do we recognise Jesus in the people we meet? Do we trust him enough to cast our net on the other side? Are we joyous enough to jump into the water? Do we love him enough to look after his lambs, above all the suffering?



  1. Share a moment when you broke the mould and cast your net on the other side or jumped into the water.
  2. In what ways are you answering Jesus’ command to Peter to “feed my sheep”?*


 * All second questions © The Pastoral Center