Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 2nd Sunday of Easter – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • Acts 2:42-47
  • 1 Peter 1:3-9
  • John 20:19-31

With a twinkle in his eye, Dad called everyone together for the Gospel reading this morning.  Something was up. 

“Okay, Family,” Dad started.  “Peter is home for only a few more days on his break from Franciscan University of Steubenville.  I thought it would be great if Peter would read our Gospel passage for this morning!”

“Great idea, Dad!” Vincent chimed in.  He really loved his older brother.

“And, maybe … ” Dad continued with a sly grin, “Peter will read our Gospel the way they did in the class he just completed.”

Peter took hold of the Bible and opened to the Gospel of John, Chapter 20.  It was the wonderful passage of Jesus standing before His disciples after His Resurrection; Thomas, who wasn’t there initially, coming to believe; and the institution of the sacrament of Reconciliation. 

Peter began loudly and boldly.  “ ‘Cum esset ergo sero die illa prima sabbatorum, et fores essent clausae, ubi erant discipuli propter metum Iudaeorum, venit Ilesus et stetit in medio et dicit eis: “Pax vobis!”  Et hoc … ‘ ”  (John 20:19-20a)

All the kids looked around in bewilderment.  What was this strange language Peter was speaking?

Peter continued, “ ‘Et hoc cum dixisset, ostendit eis manus et latus.  Gavisi sunt ergo discipuli, viso Domino.  Dixit ergo eis iterum: “Pax vobis!  Sicut misit me Pater, et ego mitto vos!” ‘ “  (John 20:20-21)

“Wait … wait … wait!” Vincent finally shouted.  “What’s going on here?  We can’t understand one word Peter is saying!”

Dad was laughing.  “Okay, Peter, that’s enough!  We just thought it would be fun for you to hear the Gospel in Latin.  This is what Peter studied in his course last semester!”

“Latin!” Vincent piped in again. “Does anyone speak Latin anymore?”
“Sure they do, Buddy!” Peter said.  “It’s the universal language of the Roman Catholic Church.”

“And I remember, when I was small, the entire Mass was said in Latin!” Mom stated.  “I still remember ‘Dominos vobiscum.  Et cum spiritu tuo!’  That means, ‘The Lord be with you.  And with your spirit!’ “

Dad added.  “Latin is a fun language!  I still recall, even today, that ‘Deo Gratias!’ means ‘Thanks be to God!’ ” 

Then Dad had an idea.  “Peter, why don’t you teach us some of the Latin from our reading today?”

“Okay!” Peter agreed, as he scanned the Bible.  “When Jesus appears before His frightened disciples, He says to them, ‘Pax vobis!’   That means, ’Peace be with you!’ “

“Pax vobis!” they all repeated.

“And ‘Vidimus Dominum!’ means, ‘My Lord and My God!’ ”  Peter added.  “That’s what Thomas says when he sees Jesus standing before Him still wearing the nail markings.”

“Vidimus Dominum!” the family repeated again.

“And then when Jesus commissions the disciples to forgive sins, He says,  ‘Accipite Spiritum Sanctum,’ or ‘Receive the holy Spirit.’ “ (John 20:22b)

“Accipite Spiritum Sanctum,” came the reply.

Then Vincent said, “It kind of seems to me that ‘Spiritum’ stands for ‘Spirit’ and that ‘Sanctum’ stands for ‘holy’ like in ‘saint.’  Is that right, Peter?”

“Right you are, Buddy!” Peter agreed, as Vincent beamed with accomplishment.

“Well, Family, it’s now time to head off to Mass.  How would you say that in Latin, Peter?” Dad asked.

“I guess it would be, “Ite, missa est!”

Vincent smiled as he piped in, “All I can say is ‘Deo Gratias!’ to that!”

Vidimus Dominum! – My Lord, and my God!

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Cycle A, 2 Easter, SSSDownload

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