Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday
28 April 2019
| Second reading Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19 |
|---|
I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this.
Gospel John 20:19-31
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.
By Carlo Alexis R. Malaluan
“Are you a believer?” A woman asked me as I silently read my pocket Bible. By believer, she meant Christian. “I am.”, I said.
The essence of being a Christian is believing in Jesus Christ and living the faith. Easter highlights faith. We all know who Thomas is. We often hear his encounter every Easter season. And whether you agree with me or not, most of the time, we are like the Doubting Thomas.
Faith is a journey beset by difficulties and trials. We sometimes ask the question, “Hey God! Are you there? Are you real?”. This unbelief stems out from different difficulties. It could be caused by the persecution and indifference of others but most of the time, it stems out from our inner struggles. Thomas doubted. We may put our faith aside because we feel tired, disappointed or lazy. We even doubt, if everything is worth all the effort.
Thomas took the step from unbelief to faith. If we find it hard to believe, at least take a simple step to believe even up to the point that we bring our hands to the side and wounds of Jesus.
The last words of the Gospel remind us that faith leads to life. “Through faith you have life”. Faith enables us to master our life and journey in this world and reach the unending happy after-life.
Faith encourages us. Faith transforms us. Faith allows us to see the goodness and graces of God.
“Are you a believer?” A woman asked me as I silently read my pocket Bible. By believer, she meant Christian. “I am.”, I said.
The essence of being a Christian is believing in Jesus Christ and living the faith. Easter highlights faith. We all know who Thomas is. We often hear his encounter every Easter season. And whether you agree with me or not, most of the time, we are like the Doubting Thomas.
Faith is a journey beset by difficulties and trials. We sometimes ask the question, “Hey God! Are you there? Are you real?”. This unbelief stems out from different difficulties. It could be caused by the persecution and indifference of others but most of the time, it stems out from our inner struggles. Thomas doubted. We may put our faith aside because we feel tired, disappointed or lazy. We even doubt, if everything is worth all the effort.
Thomas took the step from unbelief to faith. If we find it hard to believe, at least take a simple step to believe even up to the point that we bring our hands to the side and wounds of Jesus.
The last words of the Gospel remind us that faith leads to life. “Through faith you have life”. Faith enables us to master our life and journey in this world and reach the unending happy after-life.
Faith encourages us. Faith transforms us. Faith allows us to see the goodness and graces of God.
Prayer
God of Merciful Compassion, even
when our words hardly manage to express our longing for a communion with You, Your presence dwells within each one and so a joy may be offered to us. With
our humble faith, we seek You with confidence for Your love burrows a way
through our hesitations and even our doubts. Amen.
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