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3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

Sunday April 14, 2024

Mass Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

  • First Reading - Acts 3:13-15, 17-19: Peter declares that by rejecting Jesus and choosing a murderer instead, the people and their leaders acted in ignorance. His death and resurrection fulfill God's prophecy. Peter urges repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
  • Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 4: In times of trouble, I call on God, who rescues and listens. His miracles affirm His faithfulness, and His light brings joy to my heart. In His care, I find unparalleled peace and security.
  • Second Reading - 1 John 2:1-5: If we sin, Jesus Christ, the righteous, advocates for us. He atoned for our sins, extending beyond us to the whole world. True knowledge of Him is demonstrated by obeying His commands.
  • Gospel - Luke 24:35-48: The disciples recounted recognizing Jesus by the breaking of bread. Jesus then appeared, offering peace and dispelling fears of his being a specter by showing his hands and feet and eating fish, demonstrating his physical resurrection. He explained scripture prophecies about his suffering, resurrection, and the call to spread forgiveness in his name, affirming their roles as witnesses.

Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.

Luke 24:38-39

Themes for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

The readings for the 3rd Sunday in Easter encourage us to truly believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and to accept his love. In the gospel the risen Jesus appears to his disciples and helps them understand his death and resurrection.

The readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B touch on several interconnected themes that are crucial to understanding the Easter season and its significance in Christian life. Here are the main themes:

  • Repentance and Forgiveness: A central theme, especially highlighted in the readings from Acts and the Gospel of Luke, is the call to repentance—turning back to God—and the promise of forgiveness. This theme underscores God's mercy and willingness to forgive sins for those who turn to Him and acknowledge their wrongdoings.
  • The Fulfillment of Prophecy: The readings from Acts and Luke emphasize that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection were all part of God's plan, foretold in the scriptures. This theme connects the events of the New Testament with the prophecies of the Old Testament, showing the continuity and fulfillment of God's salvation history.
  • Witnessing to the Resurrection: The Gospel and the first reading both highlight the importance of witnessing to the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples are called to share the news of Jesus' resurrection and the forgiveness of sins with all nations, emphasizing the role of Christians to bear witness to the truth of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
  • Jesus as Advocate and Atonement: The second reading from 1 John presents Jesus as the advocate for sinners and the atonement for our sins. This theme highlights the mediating role of Jesus between humanity and God, and the universal scope of Jesus' sacrifice, which is not limited to a single group but is extended to the whole world.
  • Obedience to God's Commands: True knowledge of Jesus is demonstrated through obedience to His commands, as mentioned in the letter of John. This theme ties in with the idea of living according to God's will as a response to understanding and accepting Jesus' role as our savior and advocate.
  • The Physical Resurrection of Jesus: In the Gospel reading, Jesus shows His physical form to His disciples, eating with them and allowing them to touch Him. This emphasizes the physical reality of the resurrection, countering any notion that it was merely a spiritual or symbolic event.

These themes collectively reinforce the message of Easter as a time of renewal, hope, and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.

See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.

Resources for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

Sunday April 14, 2024

Lesson Plan on Overcoming Fears
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Lesson Plan on Overcoming Fears: Finding Strength in Jesus’ Resurrection

This lesson plan aims to encourage youth to reflect on the profound reality of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. It invites them to explore the ways in which Jesus offers us strength in overcoming our fears. The lesson focuses on the scripture passage from Luke 24:35-48, which is the designated gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B. Through engaging activities and discussions, students will learn how the power of Jesus' resurrection and how it brings solace and courage to our lives.

A Students Prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus
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A Student’s Prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus

On the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, a student's prayer to St. Jude Thaddeus resonates deeply with themes of hope, renewal, and transformation. As the patron saint of hope and impossible causes, St. Jude embodies the Easter message of overcoming despair and finding new strength. Students feeling overwhelmed by studies or life's pressures can find peace in St. Jude's intercession, reflecting the readings' call for turning towards hope and embracing the promise of forgiveness and new beginnings characteristic of this joyous season.

The Acts of the Apostles
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The Acts of the Apostles

The first reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, Acts 3:13-15, 17-19, highlights Peter's pivotal role in the early Church, following the Holy Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost. This passage showcases Peter as a dynamic leader, miracle worker, and bold preacher, emphasizing his crucial contributions to the spread of the Gospel and the formation of the Christian community. Through his actions and words, Peter encourages repentance and conversion, embodying the transformative power of the Easter message and setting a foundation for the Church's mission. Read more about the Acts of the Apostles.

First Letter of John
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1 John: Exploring the Depths of Love and Truth

The second reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, from 1 John 2:1-5, delves into the essence of God's love and the imperative of living in truth and light. This passage encourages us to reflect on our lives in light of God's commands, emphasizing the importance of love, confession, and striving for righteousness. It reminds us of Jesus' role as our advocate, offering a path to forgiveness and transformation. As we navigate our own shortcomings, this reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B offers a roadmap for personal growth and the practice of extending grace to ourselves and those around us. Read more about 1 John.

Gospel of Luke
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The Gospel of Luke

The Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, Luke 24:35-48, recounts Jesus' resurrection and appearances to His disciples, highlighting His sacrificial love and triumph over sin and death. Luke's narrative, distinct from Matthew and Mark, is tailored for a broad audience, including non-Jewish readers, emphasizing the universality of Jesus' message. This Gospel underscores salvation and redemption, showcasing God's love and the call for everyone to find forgiveness and reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ, making it a vital piece for understanding the inclusive nature of God's invitation to salvation. Read more.

Homilies and Reflections for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

Sunday April 14, 2024

How Catholics Can Get a Clean Start with God

Jeff Cavins draws a parallel between the dings and scratches on his new car and the spiritual blemishes we accumulate through sin in his reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B. He emphasizes the role of confession in restoring our spiritual purity, much like a body shop repairs a car. Cavins reassures us that, despite our imperfections, God is not done with us and offers forgiveness through Jesus, our advocate. This reflection encourages us to seek reconciliation and experience God's perfecting love, reminding us of the continuous opportunity for spiritual renewal and joy.

The Strangeness of the Resurrection and Why It Matters

Bishop Robert Barron, in his homily for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, emphasizes the radical nature of the Resurrection. He clarifies that the Resurrection is not merely a symbol or moral lesson but a real, bodily rising of Jesus from the dead, which reorients the cosmos by forging a connection between heaven and earth. This event demonstrates that Jesus, who walked among us, is now our advocate in heaven, offering us extraordinary hope. Barron urges us not to domesticate the Resurrection into a bland symbol but to recognize its radical nature and find deep joy and hope in its truth.

Understanding the Scriptures

Scott Hahn emphasizes that Jesus, in the Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, teaches His apostles to interpret Scriptures as all pointing towards Him and His mission. He highlights that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies through His Passion, death, and resurrection, setting the foundation for the Church’s mission to preach forgiveness. The apostles carry forward this mission, interpreting Scriptures as Jesus taught. Hahn encourages us to approach Scriptures not just to learn about Jesus but to know Him personally and understand His plan for our lives, assuring us of God's attentive presence in our calls for help.

More Thoughts for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

Embracing Repentance and Forgiveness

As we journey through the Easter season, the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B invite us to reflect deeply on the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the power of the Resurrection. The call to turn back to God and the assurance of His forgiveness are central messages that resonate throughout the readings, offering us a path to renewal and hope.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter addresses the people with a powerful message of repentance. He acknowledges that both the people and their leaders acted in ignorance when they rejected Jesus and chose a murderer instead. However, Peter's words are not of condemnation but of invitation. He invites his listeners to repent and turn back to God so that their sins may be wiped out. This passage highlights a fundamental truth of the Christian faith: God's mercy is greater than our sins, and His desire is always to bring us back into full communion with Him.

The theme of repentance and forgiveness is further developed in the Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B. Here, the risen Jesus appears to His disciples, offering them peace and dispelling their fears. By showing His hands and feet and sharing a meal with them, Jesus demonstrates the reality of His physical resurrection. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, showing how His suffering, death, and resurrection were all part of God's salvific plan. This moment is not just a revelation of the mystery of the Resurrection but also an invitation to the disciples to become witnesses to the forgiveness of sins through Jesus' name.

The call to repentance is not a mere acknowledgment of wrongdoing. It is an invitation to a change of heart, to turn away from sin and toward God's loving mercy. The assurance of forgiveness that follows repentance is a gift of God's infinite love, a promise that no matter how far we have strayed, there is always a way back to Him.

Living in the Light of the Resurrection

The readings for this Sunday also challenge us to live as witnesses to the Resurrection, embodying the hope and renewal it signifies. The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event; it is a reality that has the power to transform our lives today. By rising from the dead, Jesus has conquered sin and death, opening the way for us to live in newness of life.

In the first reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, John reminds us that Jesus is our advocate with the Father, the one who atones for our sins. This reassurance is not limited to us but extends to the whole world. It is a call to live our lives in a way that reflects the truth of the Resurrection, obeying God's commands and walking in the light of His love. True knowledge of Jesus comes through living in accordance with His teachings, embracing His call to love God and our neighbors.

As witnesses to the Resurrection, we are called to share the message of forgiveness and hope with the world. Jesus' instruction to His disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations is also a mandate for us. In a world marked by division and despair, the message of the Resurrection is a beacon of hope. It is a reminder that love is stronger than death, and that God's mercy can transform even the darkest situations.


The readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B invite us into a deeper encounter with the Risen Lord. They call us to embrace repentance and forgiveness, to live as witnesses to the Resurrection, and to spread the message of hope and renewal to the world. As we reflect on these themes, let us open our hearts to the power of the Resurrection, allowing it to renew us in spirit and in truth. Let us walk in the light of Christ, confident in His love and mercy, and eager to share the Good News of His Resurrection with all whom we meet.

Reflection Questions for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

  • How does the message of repentance in the readings challenge or comfort me in my own spiritual journey?
  • In what ways have I experienced God's forgiveness in my life, and how has it transformed my relationship with Him and with others?
  • Reflect on a time when you felt like the disciples—confused or doubtful about your faith. How did you come to recognize Jesus in your midst, and what changed for you?
  • Jesus' physical resurrection is a central truth of our faith. How does this reality impact the way I live my daily life and interact with others?
  • The disciples were called to be witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. In what ways am I called to witness to the resurrection in my own life? Are there specific actions or changes I feel called to make?
  • The second reading reminds us that Jesus is our advocate and atones for our sins, not just ours but those of the whole world. How does this universal scope of Jesus' sacrifice challenge me to think about those outside my immediate community or circle?
  • Obedience to God’s commands is a sign of true knowledge of Jesus according to 1 John. Reflect on the areas of my life where I struggle to obey God’s commands. What steps can I take to align my will with God’s will more closely?
  • Forgiveness of sins is a theme that runs through all the readings. Who do I need to forgive in my life, and from whom do I need to seek forgiveness?
  • The call to repentance is an invitation to a change of heart and a turning back to God. What concrete steps can I take to deepen my repentance and foster a closer relationship with God?
  • Reflecting on the message of hope and renewal in the resurrection, how can I be a beacon of hope to those around me, especially those who may be experiencing despair or hopelessness?

Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

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3rd Sunday of Easter Year B
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The 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

Music Suggestions for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

Sunday April 14, 2024

These music suggestions for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B encompass a rich tapestry of themes that echo the profound messages of renewal, resurrection, and hope found in the day's readings. These selections range from jubilant alleluias to reflective meditations on Jesus' sacrifice and the promise of new life. The variety offers a way to engage with the Easter season's joyous continuation, inviting congregations to rejoice, reflect, and respond to the power of Christ's resurrection and its impact on their lives.

These music suggestions for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B provide a diverse and spiritually enriching soundtrack to accompany the liturgical themes of this joyous season. Through uplifting hymns and contemporary praise and worship songs, these selections reinforce the message of Jesus' resurrection, the call to follow in His light, and the assurance of His presence in our journey. They offer a means for worshippers to express their joy, gratitude, and ongoing commitment to living out the Easter promise in their daily lives.

Frequently Asked Questions for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B

What date is the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B?

The next date is Sunday April 14, 2024.
For other years see the links below:
3rd Sunday of Easter Year A: Sunday April 19, 2026
3rd Sunday of Easter Year C: Sunday May 4, 2025

What are the Mass readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B?

The Catholic Mass readings for Sunday April 14, 2024 are:
First Reading – Acts 3:13-15, 17-19: Call for Repentance
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 4: Divine Light and Peace
Second Reading – 1 John 2:1-5: The Path to Knowing Christ
Gospel – Luke 24:35-48: Jesus Appears to His Disciples

What is the main message of the first reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B?

The main message of the first reading from Acts for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B is a call to repentance and forgiveness. Peter speaks to the people about their actions in rejecting Jesus and choosing a murderer instead, but emphasizes that their actions were out of ignorance. He encourages them to repent so that their sins may be wiped out, highlighting God's readiness to forgive and the fulfillment of prophecy through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

How does the second reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B relate to our daily lives?

The second reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B, from 1 John, relates to our daily lives by reminding us that Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father, especially when we sin. It reassures us that Jesus' atoning sacrifice for our sins extends beyond us to the whole world. This message urges us to live out our faith by obeying God’s commands, thereby demonstrating our true knowledge of and relationship with Jesus in our daily actions and decisions.

What significant event is recounted in the Gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B?

The Gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B recounts the significant event of Jesus appearing to His disciples after His resurrection. He offers them peace, dispels their fears by proving He is not a ghost but has risen physically, and explains how His suffering, death, and resurrection fulfill the Scriptures. This passage underscores the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and His call for the disciples to witness and preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all nations.

Why is repentance a key theme in the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B?

Repentance is a key theme in the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B because it represents a fundamental aspect of Christian faith and the Easter message. Repentance involves recognizing our sins, turning away from them, and turning back to God, who offers forgiveness. This theme is highlighted to show God's mercy and the power of the Resurrection, inviting us to renew our relationship with God and live according to His will.

How can we apply the message of the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B to our roles as witnesses in the world?

We can apply the message of the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter Year B to our roles as witnesses in the world by living our lives in a way that reflects the joy and hope of the Resurrection. This involves sharing the message of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love with others, both in word and through our actions. By embodying the teachings of Jesus and demonstrating the changes that God’s love has made in our lives, we can inspire others to seek a relationship with God and experience the power of the Resurrection.

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