12 April 2026 (Sunday) / Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)

12 April 2026 (Sunday)

Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Second Reading: First Peter 1: 3-9
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia: John 20: 29
Gospel: John 20: 19-31
Liturgical year 2026 (Cycle A/II)
Liturgical color: White or Gold.

First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47

(Reader) A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

42 And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all.
44 And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common.
45 Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need.
46 And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart;
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.

(Reader) The Word of the Lord.
(All) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or
R. Alleluia.
2 Let Israel now say that he is good: that his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or
R. Alleluia.
13 Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall: but the Lord supported me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my praise: and he is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in the tabernacles of the just.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or
R. Alleluia.
22 The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing: and it is wonderful in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and rejoice therein.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or
R. Alleluia.

Second Reading: First Peter 1: 3-9

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 Unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that can not fade, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who, by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified;
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

(Reader) The Word of the Lord.
(All) Thanks be to God.

Gospel acclamation: Alleluia: John 20: 29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
29 You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
(26. Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said.
27. Then he spoke to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.'
28. Thomas replied, 'My Lord and my God!'
29. Jesus said to him: You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
30. There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book.
31. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.)

Gospel: John 20: 19-31

(Reader) A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
(All) Glory to you, O Lord.

19 Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you.
20 And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.
22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you.
27 Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
28 Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God.
29 Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.
30 Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
31 But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.

(Reader) The Gospel of the Lord.
(All) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

For our reflection today:

The Pope’s words at the Regina Coeli prayer, 23.04.2017

At midday today, Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, the Holy Father Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Regina Coeli with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

The following is the Pope’s introduction to the Marian prayer, which substitutes the Angelus at Easter time:
 
Before the Regina Coeli:

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
We know that every Sunday we recall the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but in this period after Easter Sunday takes on an even more enlightening meaning. In the tradition of the Church, this Sunday, the first after Easter, was called “in albis”. What does this mean? The expression is intended to recall the rite that was performed by those who had received baptism in the Easter Vigil. Each one of them was given a white robe – “alba”, “white” – to indicate the new dignity of the children of God. Today we still do this: newborns are offered a little symbolic white robe, whereas adults wear a real one as we have seen in the Easter Vigil. And that white robe, in the past, was worn for a week, up to this Sunday, and from this there derives the name in albis deponendis, which means the Sunday in which we take off the white robe. And in this way, once the white robe is removed, the neophytes began their new life in Christ and in the Church.

There is another thing. In the Jubilee of the Year 2000, St. John Paul II established that this Sunday be dedicated to Divine Mercy. It is true, it was a beautiful intuition: it was the Holy Spirit Who inspired him in this. A few months ago we concluded the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and this Sunday invites us to take up again with renewed strength the grace that comes from God’s mercy. Today’s Gospel is the account of the apparition of the risen Christ before the disciples gathered in the Cenacle (cf. John 20:19-31). St. John writes that Jesus, after greeting His disciples, said to them: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you”. After saying this, He performs the gesture of breathing onto them and adds: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them” (vv. 21.23). Here is the meaning of mercy that is presented precisely on the day of Jesus’ resurrection, as forgiveness of sins. The Risen Jesus transmitted to His Church, as her first task, the same mission of taking the concrete announcement of forgiveness. This is the first task, proclaiming forgiveness. This visible sign of His mercy carries within it the peace of the heart and the joy of the renewed encounter with the Lord.

Mercy in the light of Easter allows itself to be perceived as a true form of knowledge. And this is important: mercy is a true form of knowledge. We know that it is known in many forms. It is known through the senses, it is known through intuition, through reason and other forms. Well, it may also be known through the experience of mercy, because mercy opens the door of the mind to understand better the mystery of God and of our personal existence. Mercy helps us understand that violence, rancour and revenge do not have any meaning, and the first victim is he who lives this sentiments, because he is deprived of his own dignity. Mercy also opens the door of the heart and allows us to express closeness, especially with those who are alone or marginalized, because it makes them feel they are brothers and sons of one Father. It promotes the acknowledgment of those who are in need of consolation and helps us find the right words to give comfort.

Brothers and sisters, mercy warms the heart and makes us sensitive to the needs of our brothers with sharing and participation. Mercy, in short, commits us all to being instruments of justice, of reconciliation and peace. Let us never forget that mercy is the keystone in the life of faith, and the concrete form by which we give visibility to Jesus’ resurrection. Mary, Mother of Mercy, help us believe and live all this with joy.

Holy Father Francis - The Pope’s words at the Regina Coeli prayer, 23.04.2017

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)