Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Thursday April 9, 2026
Daily Mass Readings for Thursday in the Octave of Easter
- First Reading – Acts 3:11-26: Peter addressed a crowd after healing a crippled man in the Solomon’s Portico. He attributed the healing to faith in Jesus, called for repentance, and explained how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 8: God’s name is exalted worldwide, pondering His mindfulness of humanity, bestowed with near-divine stature and entrusted with creation’s stewardship. All earth’s creatures, reflecting this honor, underscore the breadth of His magnificence.
- Gospel – Luke 24:35-48: Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and proved to them that he was not a ghost by showing them his hands and feet and eating a piece of fish. He then helped them understand that the Scriptures prophesied his suffering, death, and resurrection, and charged them with spreading the message of repentance and forgiveness to all nations.
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Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.
Luke 24:39
Themes for the Readings for Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Thursday in the Octave of Easter reflects on the joy of the resurrection, the call to repentance, and the mission to share the good news. The readings highlight Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s promises and the responsibility to live as witnesses of his message.
- Jesus Fulfills God’s Plan: Peter explains in the first reading that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fulfill the promises made in Scripture. This reminds us that God’s plan for salvation is faithful and complete.
- Repentance and Forgiveness: Both readings call people to repent and receive forgiveness through Jesus. This shows that turning to God opens the way for new life and renewal.
- Peace Through Jesus’ Presence: In the Gospel, Jesus brings peace to his disciples as he appears to them after the resurrection. His presence calms their fears and strengthens their faith.
- Understanding Through Scripture: Jesus helps the disciples understand Scripture and how it points to his mission. This shows the importance of studying Scripture to deepen our understanding of faith.
- Witnesses to the Resurrection: Jesus calls his disciples to be witnesses of his life, death, and resurrection. This reminds us that we are also called to share the hope and joy of the resurrection with others.
- God’s Faithfulness to All: Peter emphasizes that Jesus’ mission is for everyone, calling all nations to turn to God. This reflects the universal nature of God’s love and salvation.
- Hope in the Risen Christ: Both readings highlight the hope that comes from Jesus’ victory over death. This hope gives strength and purpose to those who follow him.
Thursday in the Octave of Easter invites us to reflect on the peace and hope that Jesus brings through his resurrection. The readings call us to live as witnesses of his love and to trust in the fulfillment of God’s promises.
Reflection for Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Thursday in the Octave of Easter reflects on Jesus’ resurrection and the mission he gives his followers. The readings highlight God’s faithfulness, the importance of understanding Scripture, and the call to witness the good news. These reflections encourage us to trust in God’s plan and to share the joy of Christ’s resurrection with others.
God’s Plan Fulfilled Through Jesus
In the first reading for Thursday in the Octave of Easter, Peter explains that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fulfill the promises made in Scripture. These promises were part of God’s plan from the beginning, showing his care and faithfulness to his people. Jesus’ resurrection confirms that God’s plan is complete and offers hope to all who believe.
This fulfillment reminds us to trust in God’s promises, even when life feels uncertain. Just as God’s plan unfolded through Jesus, his care continues in our own lives. Reflecting on this truth can strengthen our faith and encourage us to rely on God’s guidance.
Thursday in the Octave of Easter calls us to reflect on how Jesus’ life and resurrection reveal the fulfillment of God’s promises. It invites us to place our trust in God’s plan and to live with hope, knowing that his love is constant and unchanging.
Understanding Scripture Through Jesus
In the Gospel for Thursday in the Octave of Easter, Jesus explains the Scriptures to the disciples, helping them understand his mission. He shows how the writings of the prophets and the law point to his life, death, and resurrection. This moment highlights the importance of Scripture in revealing God’s plan for salvation.
By studying Scripture, we deepen our understanding of who Jesus is and what he asks of us. Scripture guides us, encourages us, and helps us grow in faith. It teaches us to recognize God’s work in history and in our own lives.
Thursday in the Octave of Easter reminds us to make Scripture a part of our daily lives. By reflecting on God’s word, we can grow closer to Jesus and gain a clearer understanding of his mission and his love for us.
Called to Be Witnesses
Both the first reading and the Gospel for Thursday in the Octave of Easter emphasize the call to be witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Peter boldly proclaims Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises and calls the people to repentance. In the Gospel, Jesus sends the disciples out to share the message of his life, death, and resurrection with all nations.
This call to witness reminds us that faith is not meant to be kept private. It is a gift that is meant to be shared with others. By living with hope and sharing the good news, we participate in Jesus’ mission to bring salvation to the world.
Thursday in the Octave of Easter encourages us to reflect on how we can be witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Through our words and actions, we can share his peace and love with others, bringing hope and light to those around us.
The reflections for Thursday in the Octave of Easter remind us of the peace and hope Jesus brings to our lives. By trusting in God’s promises, growing in understanding of Scripture, and living as witnesses to his love, we can help others encounter the risen Christ. May we carry the light of the resurrection into our daily lives.
Prayer
Lord, you fulfilled your promises through the resurrection of your Son. Help us to trust in your plan and to understand your word. Guide us to be witnesses of your love and to share the hope of your resurrection with others. May we walk in your peace and joy each day. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- How does knowing God’s plan was fulfilled through Jesus strengthen your faith?
- What steps can you take to grow in understanding of Scripture?
- How can you share the message of Jesus’ resurrection in your daily life?
- When have you experienced peace through knowing Jesus is with you?
Homilies and Commentaries for Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Trust and Surrender
Thursday in the Octave of Easter reminds us that all power and healing come from God, not from us. After healing a man, Peter points away from himself and John and gives glory to Jesus. He calls the people to repentance, including himself, as one who once denied Christ. We are also invited to reflect on the ways our sins have blocked God’s grace.
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers encourages us to surrender fully to God. Faith in Jesus allows his grace to work in us. Like Peter, we must trust that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. When we let go of control and give our lives to God, miracles happen. Surrender is not weakness—it opens the way for God to act. By living with faith, trust, and praise, we become instruments in God’s hands.
How to Understand the Scriptures
In the reading for Thursday in the Octave of Easter, Jesus appears to His disciples and makes it clear He is not a ghost. He invites them to touch His hands and feet and even asks for something to eat. These simple actions show that He is truly there, risen in the flesh. Then, Jesus opens their minds so they can understand the Scriptures, helping them see the full meaning of all that has happened.
Matthew Kelly reflects on how Jesus teaches through repetition and action. He encourages us to pay attention when things are repeated in Scripture. He also invites us to make a simple prayer part of our day: “Lord, open my mind to understand the Scriptures.” With this prayer, we can begin to see more clearly how Jesus is speaking to us and guiding us.
The Wounded, Risen Lord
In this reflection for Thursday in the Octave of Easter, Fr. Jean Jacques Pérennès describes how Jesus appears to his frightened disciples in Jerusalem. They think they are seeing a ghost, but Jesus shows them his wounds and even eats fish to prove he is truly alive. He wants them to see that he is the same Jesus who suffered, died, and now lives again.
Fr. Jean Jacques reminds us that the Resurrection does not erase the suffering of life but transforms it. Jesus fulfills the words of the prophets not through power, but through love and sacrifice. The risen Christ carries the marks of human pain, yet brings new hope. We are invited to savor this grace, trust in salvation, and let Christ be our guide, even through life’s struggles. Life, touched by Christ, becomes stronger than death.
Peace Instead of Vengeance
When Jesus appears after his Resurrection, his followers are filled with fear. They think he has returned to punish them for their betrayal. But Bishop Barron explains that Jesus first shows them his wounds, reminding them of the judgment of the cross. Then, instead of anger, he says, “Peace be with you.” This powerful moment opens a new way of life, showing that God’s answer to sin is love, not revenge. It happens on Thursday in the Octave of Easter.
Bishop Barron points out that the old way of thinking said violence should be answered with more violence. But Jesus overturns that. He meets the terrible disorder of his death not with hatred but with forgiveness. In doing so, he becomes the true Savior. He offers peace, reconciliation, and compassion, not retribution. His Resurrection brings a new world of mercy and hope for all people.
Jesus Christ Is God
This video USCCB reflection for Thursday in the Octave of Easter addresses a TV series exploring Jesus’ historical figure, suggesting his divine nature was a later addition by followers.
The reflection firmly opposes this, affirming Jesus as truly God, evidenced through his unique claim of divinity, scriptural prophecies, and miracles. It emphasizes Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating his divine mission and identity. Encouraging faith expression, it highlights Jesus’ enduring presence, especially in the Eucharist, urging believers to share their faith confidently, fueled by the Holy Spirit’s power.
Questions and Answers for Thursday in the Octave of Easter
Why does Peter speak about Jesus fulfilling God’s plan in the first reading for Thursday in the Octave of Easter?
Peter explains that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were part of God’s plan from the beginning. This shows that God’s promises in Scripture are trustworthy and complete.
What does repentance mean in the first reading?
Repentance means turning away from sin and choosing to follow God. Peter calls the people to repent so they can receive forgiveness and a renewed relationship with God.
What can we learn from Peter’s boldness?
Peter’s courage shows the power of faith and the Holy Spirit. It encourages us to speak about Jesus and trust that God will guide us.
Why does Jesus bring peace to the disciples in the Gospel for Thursday in the Octave of Easter?
Jesus brings peace to calm their fears and reassure them after his resurrection. His presence reminds them that he is alive and still with them.
What does it mean to be witnesses?
Being witnesses means sharing the message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection with others. Jesus calls his followers to spread this hope and joy to all people.
How does Jesus help the disciples understand Scripture?
Jesus explains how the Scriptures point to his mission and role as the Messiah. This helps the disciples see how his death and resurrection fulfill God’s promises.
Why is forgiveness so important in the readings for Thursday in the Octave of Easter?
Forgiveness restores our relationship with God and brings peace to our hearts. It allows us to live in hope and renewal through Jesus.
How can the readings for Thursday in the Octave of Easter guide us in our lives?
The readings remind us to trust in God’s promises, turn to him for forgiveness, and share the joy of Jesus’ resurrection with others. They encourage us to live as witnesses of his love.
What is the main message of Thursday in the Octave of Easter?
Thursday in the Octave of Easter focuses on Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture, the call to repentance, and the hope of his resurrection. It calls us to live with peace and share his message with others.
Peace and Hope in the Risen Christ
Thursday in the Octave of Easter focuses on the peace and hope that come from the resurrection of Jesus. In the first reading, Peter boldly proclaims that Jesus fulfills God’s promises and calls the people to repent and receive forgiveness. His message shows that God’s plan of salvation has always been faithful and trustworthy.
In the Gospel, Jesus appears to the disciples and brings them peace. He helps them understand the Scriptures and explains how his life, death, and resurrection fulfill God’s plan. Jesus sends the disciples as witnesses, calling them to share the good news with all nations.
Thursday in the Octave of Easter reminds us that Jesus brings peace and renewal into our lives. The readings call us to trust in God’s plan, accept his forgiveness, and live as witnesses of his resurrection.
Your Turn
Thursday in the Octave of Easter invites us to reflect on the peace and hope Jesus offers. How can you trust more in God’s promises? What does it mean to live as a witness of the resurrection?
Reflect on the readings and share your thoughts in the comments. Let your experience inspire others to grow in faith and hope through the risen Christ.
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