READINGS FOR EASTER WEDNESDAY
Holy Gospel:  John 21:1-14   (ESV)

    36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!"  37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.  38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts?"  39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.  Touch me, and see.  For a spirit does no have flesh and bones as you see that I have."  40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"  42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it.       
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

  8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and viciously accused the Jews.  9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!  10 You, O king, have made a decree. that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and  every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.  11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.  12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."   
Epistle:  Colossians 3:1-7   (ESV)

    26 Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.  28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed.  29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.  30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.  32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,
         "You are my Son,
              today I have begotten you."