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THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

INTROIT 1 St. Peter 2 AS newborn babes, alleluia: desire the sincere milk of the word, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Ps. 81 Sing we merrily unto God our strength: make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob. Glory be.

COLLECT. ALMIGHTY FATHER, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification: grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Lesson:  Acts 4:32-35

[32] Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common.
[33] And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
[34] There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold
[35] and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need.

 

Psalm 118:15-24

[15] Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
[16] the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"
[17] I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
[18] The LORD has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death.
[19] Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
[20] This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
[21] I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
[22] The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
[23] This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
[24] This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

EPISTLE. 1 Saint John 5:4-12 4

Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Gradual Alleluia, alleluia. V. St. Mt. 28 In the day of my Resurrection, saith the Lord, I will go before you into Galilee. Alleluia. V. St. John 20. After eight days, the door being shut, Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples and said: Peace be unto you. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. Saint John 20:19-23

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

OFFERTORY. St. Matthew 28. The Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and said unto the women: He whom ye seek is risen, as he said. Alleluia.

A fisherman lowers a net into calm water at sunrise on the Sea of Galilee while Jesus stands beside him, symbolizing faith and trust after a night of empty nets.

Nevertheless at Thy Word: Faith in the Midst of Empty Nets

by | Jul 5, 2026 |

Sermon Excerpt — Trinity 5
Luke 5:1–11
Have you ever worked hard at something, only to come up empty? Simon Peter knew that feeling well. After a long night of fishing, he and his companions had caught nothing. Exhausted and discouraged, they returned to shore and began washing their nets—resigned to failure.

It was in that very moment that Jesus stepped in and said, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets.”

By all human reasoning, this made no sense. The night was over. The opportunity had passed. Yet Peter responds with remarkable faith:“Nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net.”

Those four words change everything.

Peter obeys—and the result is abundance beyond imagination. The nets overflow. The boats nearly sink. What began in exhaustion ends in overwhelming blessing.

This passage reminds us that faith often looks like simple obedience in difficult moments. Not when we feel strong or confident, but when we are tired, uncertain, and ready to give up. Christ does not wait for us to be perfect or prepared—He meets us in our weakness and calls us to trust Him.

Whatever “empty nets” you are carrying today, bring them to Christ. And then, like Peter, say: “Nevertheless at thy word.” Cast the net once more—and trust that He is faithful.