Second Sunday of Easter 2026: April 12

Alleluia! The Easter season continues as we gather for the Second Sunday of Easter in 2026 to encounter the risen Lord once again. On April 12, 2026, we celebrate this joyful season alongside Thomas and the other disciples as Jesus appears to them in their fear and doubt, offering peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We worship with joy, knowing that the resurrection transforms not only history but also our own lives.

Join us for Morning Prayer in the way that suits you best! You can participate in person, via live stream, video replay, or podcast.

If You Cannot Join Us In Person for the Second Sunday of Easter 2026!

We understand that you may not be able to attend in person, so we offer several virtual options.

Livestream/Playback

Join us live at 8:50 AM for the organ prelude, followed by the service at 9:00 AM. After the livestream ends, you can watch the video replay at any time.

Podcast

Did you know that we are available on all major platforms? Today, our podcast covers the whole service.

The Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter 2026

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter 2026

First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22–32

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them.

22 “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”

Psalm 16

The Epistle: 1 Peter 1:3–9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The Gospel: John 20:19–31

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in my side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection on the Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter 2026

Peter’s Witness and Our Living Hope

First Reading – Acts 2:14a, 22–32

Peter’s proclamation on the day of Pentecost is the Church’s first official witness to the resurrection. Standing with the eleven apostles, Peter addresses the crowd gathered at Jerusalem. His message is direct: the Jesus you know, the one you saw doing deeds of power and wonders among you, the one you crucified—God has raised him up. This is not a claim made in isolation or confusion, but boldly proclaimed in the very city where the crucifixion took place, by witnesses who had seen the risen Jesus.

What is striking about Peter’s approach is his use of Scripture itself. He cites Psalm 16, interpreting David’s words as a prophecy of the Messiah’s resurrection. In doing so, Peter establishes that the resurrection is not a surprising reversal of God’s plan, but its fulfillment. The outline is clear: Jesus was delivered according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God; he was crucified and killed; but God raised him up, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. The resurrection is not merely a moment of vindication for Jesus; it is the pivotal act by which God reverses death itself.

Peter highlights that the apostles are witnesses to the event in question. In the ancient world, the testimony of witnesses was extremely important. Peter and the other apostles do not speak merely from theory or hope; they speak from direct experience, having seen the risen Jesus. This eyewitness testimony will serve as the foundation for the early Church’s proclamation for many years to come.

Psalm 16

Psalm 16 is remarkable for its themes of trust, joy, and the presence of God. The psalmist affirms that the Lord is his portion and his cup—his complete inheritance and satisfaction. In a world of many competing claims and false gods, the psalmist maintains unwavering confidence: “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.”

The climax of the psalm is found in its final verses: “For you will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your holy one see the Pit. You will show me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy, and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” In the tradition of the Church, these words are interpreted as foreshadowing the resurrection. Those who place their trust in God will not remain in the grave; the holy one will not experience decay. The path of life leads into God’s presence, where there is complete joy.

When Peter quotes this psalm during his sermon at Pentecost, he applies it to Christ. Jesus did not stay in the grave; he was not abandoned to Hades. Instead, he was raised and exalted to the right hand of God. Through Christ, all who believe receive the promise: we too shall not be abandoned, and we too shall walk the path of life into God’s presence.

Epistle – 1 Peter 1:3–9

In his letter, Peter, writing around thirty years after Pentecost, reflects on the significance of the resurrection for all believers. He starts with a doxology: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Notice the phrase “living hope.” This hope, which is based on the living event of the resurrection, is fundamentally different from mere wishful thinking. It is grounded in what God has accomplished. Furthermore, Peter refers to an inheritance that is kept in heaven; it is imperishable (it will not decay), undefiled (it will not be corrupted), and unfading (it will not wither). The resurrection guarantees not only Jesus’ future but also ours.

Peter recognizes that his readers face various challenges. However, he encourages them to rejoice, reminding them that their faith—tempered by suffering like gold in fire—will lead to praise, glory, and honor when Christ is revealed. The most remarkable statement appears in verses 8-9: “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

This illustrates the paradox of faith after Pentecost. Although we have not seen the risen Jesus with our own eyes, we still believe in Him, love Him, and experience a joy that is beyond description. Our faith is not less than that of Peter; it is complete and sufficient. Through our faith, we receive the salvation of our souls.

Gospel – John 20:19–31

John’s account of the risen Jesus appearing to the disciples is marked by the themes of peace and the commissioning that characterize the resurrection. On the first day of the week, while the doors were locked in fear, Jesus appeared among them and offered a greeting that encapsulated his entire gift: “Peace be with you.” He showed them his hands and his side—the wounds that confirmed his identity.

Jesus then commissions the disciples, saying, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” This is the apostolic gift: the Spirit‑filled authority to proclaim, in Christ’s name, God’s forgiveness and reconciling love to the world.

Thomas was not present when the other disciples told him that they had seen the Lord. In response, he expressed his need for proof: he needed to see and touch the wounds himself in order to believe. A week later, the risen Jesus appeared again, and this time Thomas was there. Instead of shaming Thomas for his doubts, Jesus invited him to do exactly what he had said he needed to do: to touch the wounds and see them for himself in order to believe.

Thomas’s response is the most profound confession in Scripture: “My Lord and my God!” By calling Jesus “God,” Thomas acknowledges the full divinity of the risen Christ. Jesus’ reply serves as a blessing for all future believers: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” This blessing is extended to us, who read this Gospel nearly two thousand years after the resurrection, and to all believers throughout history who have not physically touched the wounds of Jesus but still believe in Him.

Second Sunday of Easter 2026 Reflection Wrap-Up

The readings for the Second Sunday of Easter provide a clear understanding of what the resurrection means for the Church and all believers. Peter, as an eyewitness of the risen Christ, boldly proclaims that Jesus has been raised according to God’s plan and is now exalted at God’s right hand. The psalmist expresses joy and security that come from trusting in God, particularly in the face of death. In his epistle, Peter assures us that we, too, are promised resurrection; our living hope is rooted in what God has accomplished, and through our faith, we receive the salvation of our souls. Meanwhile, John depicts the risen Jesus appearing in peace, commissioning His disciples, and offering a special blessing to those who believe without having seen.

Thomas symbolizes every doubter and every person for whom faith is a struggle. However, the risen Jesus does not dismiss him; instead, He meets Thomas right where he is. By doing so, Jesus offers a blessing to all of us who must walk by faith rather than by sight. Like Thomas, we, and all believers throughout history, ultimately come to proclaim: “My Lord and my God!”

Alleluia! Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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