8 April 2026 (Wednesday) / Easter Wednesday / Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

8 April 2026 (Wednesday)

Easter Wednesday.
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Acts 3: 1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 105: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia: Psalms 118: 24
Gospel: Luke 24: 13-35
Liturgical year 2026 (Cycle A/II)
Liturgical color: White or Gold.

First Reading: Acts 3: 1-10

1 Now Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer.
2 And a certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb, was carried: whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of them that went into the temple.
3 He, when he had seen Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.
4 But Peter with John fastening his eyes upon him, said: Look upon us.
5 But he looked earnestly upon them, hoping that he should receive something of them.
6 But Peter said: Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, I give thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise, and walk.
7 And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up, and forthwith his feet and soles received strength.
8 And he leaping up, stood, and walked, and went in with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
10 And they knew him, that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened to him.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 105: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R. (3b) Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or
R. Alleluia.
1 Alleluia. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles.
2 Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or
R. Alleluia.
3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
4 Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or
R. Alleluia.
6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or
R. Alleluia.
8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9 Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac:
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
or
R. Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia: Psalms 118: 24
Alleluia: Psalms 118: 24
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
(1. Alleluia! Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good, for his faithful love endures for ever.
2. Let the House of Israel say, 'His faithful love endures for ever.'
3. Let the House of Aaron say, 'His faithful love endures for ever.'
4. Let those who fear Yahweh say, 'His faithful love endures for ever.'
5. In my distress I called to Yahweh, he heard me and brought me relief.
6. With Yahweh on my side I fear nothing; what can human beings do to me?
7. With Yahweh on my side as my help, I gloat over my enemies.
8. It is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to rely on human beings;
9. better to take refuge in Yahweh than to rely on princes.
10. Nations were swarming around me, in the name of Yahweh I cut them down;
11. they swarmed around me, pressing upon me, in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
12. They swarmed around me like bees, they flared up like a brushwood fire, in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
13. I was pushed hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh came to my help.
14. Yahweh is my strength and my song, he has been my Saviour.
15. Shouts of joy and salvation, in the tents of the upright, 'Yahweh's right hand is triumphant,
16. Yahweh's right hand is victorious, Yahweh's right hand is triumphant!'
17. I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
18. Though Yahweh punished me sternly, he has not abandoned me to death.
19. Open for me the gates of saving justice, I shall go in and thank Yahweh.
20. This is the gate of Yahweh, where the upright go in.
21. I thank you for hearing me, and making yourself my Saviour.
22. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
23. This is Yahweh's doing, and we marvel at it.
24. This is the day which Yahweh has made, a day for us to rejoice and be glad.
25. We beg you, Yahweh, save us, we beg you, Yahweh, give us victory!
26. Blessed in the name of Yahweh is he who is coming! We bless you from the house of Yahweh.
27. Yahweh is God, he gives us light. Link your processions, branches in hand, up to the horns of the altar.
28. You are my God, I thank you, all praise to you, my God. I thank you for hearing me, and making yourself my Saviour.
29. Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good, for his faithful love endures for ever.)

Gospel: Luke 24: 13-35

13 And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus himself also drawing near, went with them.
16 But their eyes were held, that they should not know him.
17 And he said to them: What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to him: Art thou only a stranger to Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?
19 To whom he said: What things? And they said: Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people;
20 And how our chief priests and princes delivered him to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21 But we hoped, that it was he that should have redeemed Israel: and now besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea and certain women also of our company affrighted us, who before it was light, were at the sepulchre,
23 And not finding his body, came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive.
24 And some of our people went to the sepulchre, and found it so as the women had said, but him they found not.
25 Then he said to them: O foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken.
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures, the things that were concerning him.
28 And they drew nigh to the town, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go farther.
29 But they constrained him; saying: Stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in with them.
30 And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to the other: Was not our heart burning within us, whilst he spoke in this way, and opened to us the scriptures?
33 And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the eleven gathered together, and those that were staying with them,
34 Saying: The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way; and how they knew him in the breaking of the bread.

For our reflection today:

The disciples of Emmaus walk sadly because they hoped for a different ending, for a Messiah who did not know the cross. Although they have heard that the tomb is empty, they cannot smile. But Jesus walks alongside them and patiently helps them understand that pain is not the denial of the promise, but the way through which God has manifested the measure of his love (cf. Lk 24:13-27). When they are finally seated at the table with him and break bread, their eyes are opened. They realize that their hearts were already burning, even though they did not know it (cf. Lk 24:28-32). This is the greatest surprise: to discover that beneath the ashes of disenchantment and weariness there is always a living ember, waiting only to be rekindled. Brothers and sisters, Christ’s resurrection teaches us that no history is so marked by disappointment or sin that it cannot be visited by hope. No fall is definitive, no night is eternal, no wound is destined to remain open forever. However distant, lost or unworthy we may feel, there is no distance that can extinguish the unfailing power of God’s love. (Pope Leo XIV - General Audience, 8 October 2025)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Pelayan Atasan Tertinggi / Most High Servant,
Yesus, Maria, Yusuf Pelayanan Kasih / Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love 
(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)

My vocation is Blessed and Saints.

"I am the most humble of all the Saints in Heaven" Mary, Mother of God."

"I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me."

Mother Mary is the most humble Saint in Heaven and she is also the Mother of God for us all
(Luke 1:38)