Easter Sunday: Resurrection - Year B

Visit www.usccb.org/nab for readings.

READING I
Acts 10:34, 37-43

Peter addresses a gathering of gentiles in this first reading. He summarizes the life of Jesus beginning with his baptism and continues through the preaching of Jesus, his deeds, Passion, death and Resurrection. Peter is among the chosen people to go out into the world telling this story.

READING II
Colossians 3:1-4
Paul helps the Colossians understand our new life in light of the Risen Christ. We share the experiences of Christ and should live accordingly. We died with him, and we will be raised with him.

GOSPEL
John 20:1-9

Because Mary did not have time on Friday before sunset to prepare Jesus for burial, she rushed to the tomb Sunday morning. When she found the tomb empty she told the other disciples and none of them understood what was going on. At last Mary recognized Jesus when he called her by name.

Jesus came among the disciples after the Resurrection. As it was with the disciples, we share in the new life that came from the death of Jesus. How do others see the Good News of the Resurrection through you?

We like it when people call us by our name. When they do this, we understand that they know us, recognize us, and care enough to address us personally. How do you think Jesus calls you by name?

April 12 - St. Zeno of Verona
St. Zeno of Verona, an African bishop of the fourth century, was known as a wonderful preacher and teacher. His collection of sermons is still used to help people understand Christianity in Africa in the decades following the end of the Roman persecutions.

April 13 - Blessed Margaret of Castello
Margaret was born in 1287 in Italy. She was born blind and had other physical problems. Her family neglected her and when she was fourteen, completely abandoned her. Margaret became a lay Dominican. Her life was one of prayer and good works.

April 14 - St. Tiburtius
There were two saints named Tiburtius who both lived near Rome in the second century and both died for their Christian faith. They had worshiped in secret with other Christians. Little else is known about them except that their names were inscribed on the walls of the catacombs as martyrs.

April 15 - Blessed Damien of Molokai
Damien of Molokai died of leprosy on this day in 1889. He was a doctor and priest. Every day he would begin Mass by addressing the people with leprosy as "my friends." When the day came that he began by saying, "my fellow lepers," they knew that he too had contracted the disease. Fr. Damien established hospitals, clinics, and churches on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai. Pope John Paul II beatified him on June 4, 1995.

April 16 - St. Bernadette of Lourdes
St. Bernadette was a little girl who had visions of Mary. The place became a shrine to the Mother of God at Lourdes, France. Thousands of people have been helped by their faith in God's ability to cure them in the waters of the shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes.

April 17 - St. Stephen Harding
St. Stephen Harding, one of the few saints of the Middle Ages (12th century) to be remembered by first and last name, was an abbot, the leader of a monastery for men. He is one of the three great reformers of the strict Trappist monastic tradition.

April 18 - St. James Oldo
Born in 1364 in Italy, James Oldo grew up rich and spoiled. He married Catharine who was just like him and together they enjoyed the comforts of the wealthy. A plague came to their village and many people they knew, including two of their children died from the disease. James soon converted to Christianity. At first his mother and wife did not agree with him, but eventually they converted, too. They turned their substantial home into a place where poor and sick could receive care.

Beatification
In 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified four people who had spent their lives caring for the poor and exploited. They are Laslzo Batthyany-Strattman of Hungary, Sr. Juana Maria Condesa Lluch of Spain, Sr. Maria Caridad Brader of Switzerland, and Fr. Pierre Bonhomme of France. The process of beatification is the last step before canonization to sainthood.