Theme:

This is the second Sunday of Easter. This is also Divine Mercy Sunday. The first readings during this season are taken from the Acts of the Apostles. The gospel reading today speaks of the two times that Jesus appeared to his disciples. However, the focus of this Sunday is on Thomas who would not want to believe when he was told that Jesus has risen.

Questions:

Day 1: The first reading shows us how the early Church was like.

• The passage said that they devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. The breaking of the bread is a technical term for the mass. Do you see all these things happening within the Catholic Church today?

• How are the teachings of the apostles relevant to a Church?

• What is the role of fellowship within the Church? How is prayer relevant to the formation of the Church?

• How can you make these these four things central in your life?

Day 2: The passage continues to speak of the awe of everyone on the apostles' works.

• What did the apostles do that caused people to hold them in awe?

• The passage also says that every day, they met at the temple and broke bread at home and ate food with glad hearts. This shows that even during the early Church, the eucharist was celebrated everyday. How is the eucharist central in a Christian's life?

• The passage ends with saying that God added to their number those who were being saved. What does this mean?

Day 3: The psalm opens with an invitation to praise God.

• What is the most often repeated phrase in the psalm? What does that phrase mean?

• The psalm says that the Lord is my strength and my might. Notice that it does not say that the Lord gives me strength. What does the phrase the Lord is my strength and my might mean?

• According to the psalm, what did the Lord's right hand do? What did the psalmist mean by that?

Day 4: The second reading is from the first letter of Peter.

• According to Peter, why did God the Father give us a new birth?

• What did this new birth bring and how did this happen?

• How did he describe our inheritance? What does this mean?

• Peter also said that we are being protected by the power of God. What does this mean?

Day 5: Peter continues in his letter and talks about sufferings.

• How did Peter describe sufferings and trials?

• According to Peter, what is the purpose of sufferings and trials?

• If you are suffering now, how is this relevant to you?

• What will you want to tell Jesus?

Day 6: The gospel reading narrates the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples.

• The evangelist mentioned that Jesus showed them his hands and side. What is the significance of this?

• Jesus also commissioned his disciples as the Father sent him. What does this mean?

• Jesus also gave his disciples the power to forgive sins. How is this relevant to the sacrament of confession?

Day 7: The gospel continues to the second week. Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not there when Jesus appeared the first time. This second time, Jesus appeared specifically for Thomas.

• What did Thomas say when he was told that Jesus is alive? In your opinion,what made him say that?

• When Jesus appeared, he told Thomas to put his finger in Jesus' hand nor his side. But Thomas did not need to. He immediately believed. In the entire gospel, only Thomas explicitly called Jesus as God. What does this say about people's unbelief?

• The evangelist closes his book stating its purpose so that the reader my believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that by believing, the reader you may have eternal life. What does this mean?

• Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? What do you want to tell Jesus?