Divine Mercy Sunday 2nd Sunday of Easter
Gospel, John (20: 19-31)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Jesus and Thomas
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
Evangelist S. John initially introduces us to a community of people who are afraid and with closed doors, and then describes the joy of the festive encounter with the Risen One. Fear and insecurity have given way to joy and happiness.
”Showing his hands and his pierced side, (verse 20), Jesus reveals his“ identity, breathes his Spirit on them making them new men to live a new life that leads them to be credible witnesses of the new Law of Love
The second part (from verses 24 to 31) is a catechesis about the experience of faith in Jesus alive and risen in the midst of the community of believers, the place where the love of Jesus manifests and radiates.
Tomas represents those who live closed in on themselves, lacking in faith and who ignore the testimony of their peers. He does not perceive the signs of new life, which are manifest in this event. Instead of integrating and participating in the same experience, he intends to obtain a private demonstration of God.
Thomas is evoked for his famous words (vs.25) “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Yet we are shown the transforming impact, which his personal encounter with Jesus, has on him. When he recognises his Lord and God. He seems to have forgotten his desire for proof. Tomas is once again bought back within the fold of his community.
With Our Lord’s Resurrection, a new way of existence begins. Our FAITH makes it possible to see him resurrected in the sacraments and in the life of His Church.
Whoever believes in the resurrected Son of God, without seeing or touching but by faith alone, may rejoice, as did those who were eyewitnesses to His Risen Glory?
PRAYER
We give you thanks, Lord, because you sent your Son to enlighten humanity with the project of the new world of love. We want to live together as brothers and sisters of Jesus in a community of Faith listening to the Word, a community of love and life, a Eucharistic and prayer community, a missionary community with doors open to the world. We sing Lord, you are the light…