Second Sunday of Easter
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ
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." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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."
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." 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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 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."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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.
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." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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."
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." 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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 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."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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.
Reflection
Jesus brings peace to his disciples and all people. After his death on the cross, the gift of peace from Jesus is so much more than a saying. The gift of peace from Jesus is a new beginning, a new life.
And not only does Jesus bring the gift of peace he also gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit given by the breath of the risen body of Jesus. Life is so much more than flesh. Life is spirit also. Here the disciples are given the breath of life in the Holy Spirit that only Jesus can give. Jesus is the everlasting new life.
Through this gift of new life in Jesus he brings a third gift. Jesus gives us the gift to forgive sins because we are Christ's disciples in the world. Through each one of us we are to tell of this new life and new hope in faith to all the world. Forgiveness is one of the elements of grace that Jesus has given to us to pronounce to all the world. Jesus uses us to pronounce God's forgiveness of sin.
And finally we discover through Thomas and so many others that belief leads to faith. God builds our faith throughout life. As we search the Word in the Bible, participate in the Sacraments and as we witness to the world what we have seen, faith builds and grows through and in us and in the belief that new disciples discover.
In faith we come to exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" ,the highest level of faith. We know that Jesus is God. Faith in Jesus leads to an inheritance of life in Jesus' name. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Jesus you are God, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, you are One God. I believe! Grow my faith and witness to all the world... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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