Unlike other seasons of the liturgical year, the first reading in the Easter Season is taken from the Acts of the Apostles instead of from the Hebrew Bible. This fact invites us to reflect on how the early Church responded to the Good News in its life as well as in its texts.
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER B: DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY Lectionary #44
The readings for this Sunday describe a community of believers who held everything in common, caring for the needy, loving the children of God, bringing effective peace and forgiveness to all.
LITURGICAL NOTE: Pope John Paul II added a new title to this Sunday, but nothing else has changed. The Divine Mercy devotion—a private devotion—should not be part of the Sunday liturgy. It may, of course, be celebrated apart from Mass on this day.
Acts 4:32-35. Luke paints an idealized picture of the earliest communities. Here, he points out how holding all things in common followed from the preaching of the resurrection as a way to care for the community’s needy members.
Psalm of the Day: Ps (117) 118
This song of thanksgiving has become, in Christian practice, the song of the resurrection. Picture Jesus singing it as he comes out of the tomb.
Aleluya/Alleluia (Reza) FYC 258
Alleluia PSL 75/SS
Dad Gracias al Señor (Taulé) FYC 259
Den Gracias al Señor (Cortés) Cantos 76
Give Thanks to the Lord (Alstott) JS 96/BB
Give Thanks to the Lord (Boschetti/Fowler) CBW 91
Give Thanks to the Lord (Guimont) GC2 988/LPMG 43
Give Thanks to the Lord (Hopson) PRM B58/PMB 618/WS
Give Thanks to the Lord/Den Gracias al Señor (Krisman) SS
Give Thanks to the Lord (Schiavone) JS 923/LP 66
Give Thanks to the Lord (Smith) GP 264/MI‑BB/SP4 56
Give Thanks to the Lord (Waddell/Gelineau) WOR 838/RS 159/LPGG 843
Suggested Common Psalm: Ps (117) 118
This is the Day the Lord Has Made
See additional suggestions for Easter Day
1 John 5:1-6. Written to support a struggling community—and to condemn those in the community who disagree with the writer’s interpretation of Christ—the First Letter of John describes fidelity to God and to the commandments as best expressed in love for God’s children.
John 20:19-31. This account of Jesus’ resurrection appearance to the disciples on Easter in Jerusalem describes the risen Christ’s gift as “shalom”—that deep peace which comes from being in union with God through forgiveness of sin. It ends with the story of Thomas and a promise to future believers that they are “blessed,” even though they did not witness the resurrection personally.
Songs for the Liturgy
See also suggestions for Easter Sunday, many of which are appropriate on any Sunday of the Easter Season.
A Living Hope (2) CBW 613/PMB 284
Alive in Christ Jesus (2) GC 799
*As Newborn Infants (E) IH 23
At the Lamb=s High Feast (2) PMB 271/WC 569/WOR 459, 460/CBW 375/GP 394/GC 433/GC2 463/JS 424/RS 578/BB/WS/SS
Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death (G) RS 729/WOR 586/WC 788/WS
Baptized in Living Waters (2,G) PMB 386/WC 741/WS
Baptized in Water (2,G) WOR 720/GC 798/GC2 797/RS 903/CBW 614/JS 542/PMB 286/WC 603/WS/SS
Bread of Life from Heaven/Pan de Vida Eterna (G) GC2 803/SS
Christ Has Risen (G) GC 451/GC2 465
Christ, Our King before Creation (G) CBW 499
Church of God (1) RS 783/GC 664/GP 571/CBW 581/PMB 381
Come and Eat This Living Bread (2) GC2 820
Crown Him with Many Crowns (G) WOR 496/CBW 437/GP 420/MI‑BB/LMGM 68/PMB 359/WC 706/RS 626/GC 485/GC2 489/JS 480/WS/SS
Do Not Be Afraid (G) JS 731/GP 630/MI-BB
*Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether (1) WOR 731/RS 917/JS 797/MI-BB
Eye Has Not Seen (G) MI‑BB/RS 758/GC 638/GC2 616/CBW 482/WC 844/WS/SS
Father, We Thank Thee (1) WOR 558/CBW 528/RS 705/GC 568/GC2 547/PMB 316/WC 619/WS/SS
Glory and Praise to Our God (G) GP 671/MI‑BB/RS 696/GC 522/GC2 537/WC 898/JS 596/WS
He Comes to Us as One Unknown (G) WOR 573
Healer of Our Every Ill (G) RS 958/GC 882/GC2 854/WC 668/WS
I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord (1) WOR 726/CBW 424/PMB 320/WC 877/RS 854/GC 806/GC2 799/WS/SS
If You Believe and I Believe (G) RS 825/GC 722/GC2 708/JS 839/WS
In the Breaking of the Bread/Cuando Partimos el Pan del Señor (1) JS 808/MI‑BB/RS 932/GC 841/GC2 843/PMB 303/WC 624/GP 508/WS
Is Your All on the Altar (G) LMGM 277
Jesus Christ, by Faith Revealed (G) PMB 369/WC 715/WS
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You (G) WOR 525/GP 693/MI‑BB/RS 669/GC 528/GC2 520/CBW 511/JS 617/PMB 497/WC 905/WS/SS
*Like Newborn Children (E) PSL 74/SS
May We Be One (1,2) RS 477/GC 316/GC2 322
No Longer Strangers (1) GC 734
Now the Feast and Celebration (1) RS 853/GC 742
*O Love of God Incarnate, v 3 (G) JS 410
*O Sons and Daughters (G) WOR 447/LMGM 60/CBW 404/BB/RS 579/GC 423/GC2 446/PMB 274/WC 568/JS 420/GP 379/WS/SS
*Our God Reigns, v 5 (G) WC 903/WS
*Peace (G) MI‑BB/PMB 462/WC 863/JS 741/GP 649/WS
Peace for Our Times (G) PMB 455/WC 865/WS
Peace with the Father (G) WOR 660
*Praise the Lord, My Soul (2) GC 554/RS 688
Praise the Spirit in Creation (1,G) WOR 477/RS 609
Prayer of Peace (G) GC 729/GC2 720/SS
Pues Si Vivimos/If We Are Living (2) GC 666/GC2 650/RS 727/PMB 408/WC 796/WS/SS
*Put Your Hand Here, Thomas (G,C) PSL 76/SS
Sent Forth by God's Blessing (G) PMB 474, 475/WC 886, 887/MI‑BB/CBW 533/JS 768/GP 588/WS
Shalom, My Friends (G) PMB 456/WC 859/WS
*Show Me Your Hands, Your Feet, Your Side (G,C) HG 109
Sing a New Church (E,1) MI-BB/GC2 644
Sing of the Lord's Goodness (Ps) JS 605/MI‑BB/GC 547/GC2 532/GP 690
Sing to the Mountains (Ps) GP 673/GC 435/GC2 452/MI‑BB/JS 601/RS 590
Take and Eat (G) RS 910/GC 831/GC2 812/CBW 611/WC 648/WS/SS
*That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright (G) WOR 457/RS 599/GC 445/GC2 461/CBW 392/SS
The Spirit of God (G) PMB 399/WC 793/GC 458/WS
Thine Be the Glory, v 3 (G) WC 556
This Is the Day (Ps) GC 449/CBW 592/GP 397/PMB 269/WC 574/SS
This Is the Day When Light Was First Created (G) WOR 663/RS 842/GC 746
This Is the Feast of Victory WOR 458/WC 897/MI‑BB/RS 583/GC 429/GC2 458/CBW 396/PMB 489/JS 428/WS/SS
Through the Mystery of Death (2) GP 451
We Have Been Baptized in Christ (2) GP 460
We Have Been Told (2) RS 815/GC 699/GC2 694/WC 812/MI-BB/WS/SS
We Remember (1,G) MI‑BB/WC 653/RS 724/GC 593/GC2 578/WS/SS
*We Walk by Faith (2,G) WOR 572/MI‑BB/PMB 416/WC 807/RS 723/GC 590/GC2 583/CBW 495/JS 700/WS/SS
We've Come This Far by Faith (G) LMGM 225
*Without Seeing You (2,G) GC 844/GC2 842
World Peace Prayer (G) GC 732/GC2 718
| Title of Anthem, Voicing & Instrumentation | Composer/arranger/editor | Publisher & edition # | |
| Words of Saint Peter (SATB, Tape & Organ) | Felciano, Richard | WLP (GA-2093-8) | E |
| 2 Motets from “Resurrexi” (SATB, Organ) | Near, Gerald | Paraclete (PPM 9108) | C |
| Awake, Arise, Go Forth and Rejoice (Unison, Piano/Organ) | Leaf, Robert | Augsburg (11-1580) | PS |
| Be Glad and Rejoice (SATB, Organ/Piano, opt. Jr. Choir, Flute, Indian drum) | Goemanne, Noel | Flammer (A-5645) | PS |
| Be Joyful in the Lord (SS, Organ) | Couperin, François | Concordia (98-1734) | PS |
| Because You Have Seen Me, Thomas (Quia Vidisti Me, Thoma) (SATB) | Marenzio | Concordia (98-2617) | G |
| Blessed Are They (SATB, opt. accompaniment) Blessed Are They (SATB, opt. accompaniment) |
Pasquet, Jean | B. F. Wood (765) Mills (44-765) |
G |
| Dies ist der Tag, den der Herr Macht (SSB or SS, 2 Violins, Organ continuo, German) | Telemann, G. P. | Hannsler (HE 39.010) | PS |
| Easter 2 from “Verses for the Easter Season” (SATB) | Willan, Healey/Guenther | Concordia (98-3057U31) | C |
| Easter Carol (2-part, Keyboard/Organ, Flute) | Proulx, Richard | GIA (G-4465) | G |
| Festival Canticle: Worthy Is the Lamb (SATB, Organ, Trumpet) | Hillert, Richard | Concordia (98-2305) | G |
| Haec Dies (SATB, Latin/English) | Ingegneri, Marc A. | Arista (A 293) | PS |
| Haec Dies (SATB, opt. Organ/Keyboard, Latin only) Haec Dies (SATB, opt. Organ/Keyboard, Latin/English) Haec Dies (SATB, opt. Organ/Keyboard, Latin/English) |
Palestrina, G. P. Palestrina, G. P./Dower, C.A. Palestrina, G. P./Pizarro, David |
Oxford (#n.a.) Alexander Broude (AB 752) H. W. Gray (CMR 2688) |
PS |
| Haec Dies (SATB, Organ/keyboard, Latin only) | Arcadelt, Jacob | J. W. Chester (55127) | PS |
| Haec Dies (SATB/SATB, Keyboard/Organ, Latin/English) | Handl, Jacob/Simkin, C.F. | C. F. Peters (1523) | PS |
| Haec Dies (SSATTB, a capella, Latin only) Haec Dies (SSATTB, a capella, Latin only) Haec Dies (SSATTB, opt. Organ/Keyboard, Latin/English) |
Palestrina, G.P. Palestrina, G.P. Palestrina, G.P./Marshall, Charles |
Arista (AE144) Oxford (A 293) Franck Music (F 585) |
PS |
| Haec Dies (SSATTB, Organ/Keyboard) Haec Dies (SSATTB, Organ/Keyboard, Latin/English) Haec Dies (SSATTB, Organ/Keyboard) Haec Dies (SSATTB, Organ/Keyboard, Latin, English) |
Byrd, William Byrd, William/Nott, David |
H. W. Gray (CMR 3093) Novello (TM 24) Oxford (#n.a.) Concordia (98-2091) |
PS |
| Hymn of Promise (2-part, Keyboard) | Sleeth, Natalie | Hope (A580) | G |
| Let Us Be Happy (SAB, Organ, Triangle) | Leaf, Robert | Augsburg (11-0661) | PS |
| Lord Is Risen Indeed, The (SATB) | Billings, William | Concordia (98-3273) | G |
| O Sons and Daughters of the King (SAB, Organ, opt. Trumpet) | Hillert, Roichard | Concordia (98-3117 | G |
| O Sons and Daughters, O FILII ET FILIAE (SATB) | arr. by Tortolano, William | GIA (G-2569) | G |
| O Sons and Daughters, O FILII ET FILIAE (SATB, Organ, Brass Quartet) | Gehring, Philip | Concordiaq (97-6077) | G |
| O Sons and Daughters, O FILII ET FILIAE (SATB, Tambourine, 8 Handbells) | arr. by Ferguson, John | GIA (G-4547) | G |
| O Sons and Daughters, O FILII ET FILIAE (Unison or SATB) | arr. by Proulx, Richard | GIA (G-4552) | G |
| Peace Be Unto You (2-part equal voices, Organ) | Bender, Jan | Concordia (98-2086) | G |
| Peace Be Unto You (SATB, Organ) | Nystedt, Knut | Augsburg (1455) | G |
| Peace Be Unto You (SATB, Organ) | Walter, Samuel | Abingdon (APM-279) | G |
| Peace Be Unto You (SATB, Organ) | Wetzler, Robert | AMSI (178) | G |
| Peace I Leave with You (SATB) | Pelz, Walter | Augsburg (0800645650) also in The Augsburg Choirbook (0800656784) | G |
| Peace I Leave with You (SATB, Organ/Keyboard) | Perti, Giacomo/Hopson, Hal H. | GIA (G-4388) | G |
| Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem (SATB, Keyboard) Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem (SAB, Organ) |
Maunder, J. H. | Novello (577) Presser (312-40533) |
PS |
| Quia Vidisti Me, Thoma (SATB, opt. keyboard, Latin only) | Hassler, Hans Leo/Martens, Mason | Concordia (98-1741) | G |
| Quia Vidisti Me, Thoma / Because You Have Seen Me, Thomas (SATB, Latin/English) | Marenzio, Luca | Concordia (98-2617) | G |
| Receive the Holy Spirit (SATB, Organ) | Hillert, Richard | Concordia (98-1675) | G |
| Rejoice (Unision, Keyboard) | Watson, Walter | Choristers Guild (CGA102) | PS |
| Stetit Jesu (SATB) | Handl, Jacob/Heider, Anne | GIA (G-2460) | G |
| Stetit Jesu (SATB) | Regnart | Chester in “The First Chester Book of Motets. | G |
| Surgens Jesu (SATB) | Monteverdi, Claudio | Oxford Anthems,Vol. 3, p. 25 | G |
| Surgens Jesu (SATB, Organ) | Phillips | Oxford New Anthems, p. 436 | G |
| That Easter Day (PUER NOBIS NASCITUR) (2 equal voices, Keyboard) | arr. by Ferguson, John | Choristers Guild (CGA 1016) | G |
| That Easter Day (PUER NOBIS NASCITUR) (SATB, Keyboard) | arr. by Bumgarner, Burton | GIA (G-4433) | G |
| This is the Day (3-part round) | Parker, Alice | Hinshaw (HMC 106) | PS |
| This is the Day (SATB, Organ/Keyboard) | Anonymous | Oxford (A-173) | PS |
| This is the Day (SATB, Organ/Keyboard) | Christiansen, Paul | AMSI (300) | PS |
| This is the Day (SATB, Organ/Keyboard) | Titcomb, Everett | Abingdon (APM-208) | PS |
| This is the Day (SATB/SATB & Continuo or SATB/Brass, Latin/English) | Gallus, Jacobus | Concordia (98-1702) | PS |
| This is the Day from “Easter Cantata (SATB, Piano or Brass) | Pinkham, Daniel | C.F. Peters (6393) | PS |
| This is the Day the Lord Created (SATB, Organ, Latin/English) | Geisler, J.C./Nolte, E. | Boosey & Hawkes (5692) | PS |
| This is the Day the Lord Has Made (SAB, Keyboard) | Near, Gerald | Augsburg (11-1620) | PS |
| This is the Day the Lord Has Made (SATB, Organ, Brass) | Ferris, William | Paraclete (PPM 0202) | PS |
| This is the Day the Lord Has Made (Unison) | Gieseke, Henry V. | Concordia (98-2754) | PS |
| This is the Day Which the Lord Hath Made (SAB, Organ) | G. Schirmer (11503) | PS |
|
| This is the Day Which the Lord Hath Made (SATB, Organ) | Ford, Virgil T. | G. Schirmer (11272) | PS |
| We Have Seen the Lord (SATB, Soprano Solo, Organ) | Wetzler, Robert | Augsburg (#n.a.) | G |
| We Walk By Faith (SATB, Piano, opt. 4 oct handbells, flute) | Helman, Michael | Augsburg (0800659759) | G |
| We Walk By Faith, DUNLAP'S CREEK (SATB) | Kosche, Kenneth, T. | MorningStar (MSM 50-6031) | G |