April 20th, 2004, Saturday of the third week of Easter.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace.

She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord,

and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.

As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the Holy Ones living in Leida.

There he found a man named Anias, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.

Peter said to him, Annius, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make

your bed. He got up at once. And all the inhabitants of Lyda and Sharon saw him, and they

turned to the Lord. Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which translated is Dorcas.

She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.

Now during those days she fell sick and died.

So after washing her, they laid her out in a room upstairs.

Since Lida was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request.

Please come to us without delay.

So Peter got up and went with them.

When he arrived, they took him to a room upstairs, where all the widows came to him weeping

and showing him the tunics and cloaks

that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter sent them all out and knelt down and

prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, Tabitha, rise up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He gave her his hand and raised her up,

and when he had called the Holy Ones and the widows, he presented her alive. This became known

all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. The Word of the Lord. The responsorial Psalm. The response

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