2nd Sunday of Easter, year ’C’
“In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them ’Peace be with you,”, and after saying his, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, and he said to them again, ’Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so am I sending you."
We are here in paschal time, there are fifty days offered so that we can come to believe more in the mystery of Jesus who makes us live On this Sunday of Mercy, we rediscover Jesus’ action who links us up to Him and to one another, this unique link is irreplaceable : ’Peace be with you!’
Jesus comes back to us, strong in his Life that will never die again, with a Life that he can transmit by HIs Holy Spirit, a Life that had never stopped bringing back to life the body of the whole of humanity so as to bring it to the Father.
This Life bears with it joy, forgiveness, hope, faith and charity it crosses through death; it has overcome all resistance, all fear, it calls us to live according to the Holy Spirit, leading it into a new existence.
We seek Jesus who lets Himself be found fortified by the Holy Spirit.The Word of God does its work of Resurrection close to us.
Jesus’ death, the piercing of his heart, struck the disciple whom Jesus loved.
United to Mary, he contemplated his Master’s face so full of Love. Jesus’ Heart hasn’t changed, his Love is always there, the same. ’They did what they liked with him“said John the Baptist, but God’s Love is always overflowing in the Heart of Jesus.”After having said this he breathed on them and said : Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven ; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.’
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciple said to him ’We have seen the Lord’, but he answered ’Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in his hands
and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my fingers in his side, I refuse to believe."
Thomas wasn’t with them and he doesn’t feel he wants to be closed in with the others, he respects the situation, but he won’t do as they do. Yet he does want to have the experience of the Risen Lord Jesus. He wants this direct contact, one that is immediate with Him.
Jesus answers him, he comes to him, recognises Him. As soon as Thomas recognises the Risen lord Jesus, he proclaims his faith, his attitude of faith links him back directly to Jesus.There aren’t many signs with the presence of the Lord Jesus who comes to us, really.
Fortunately Thomas helps us to have the right attitude. The Risen Lord Jesus establishes a relationship of Love with us.
The dispersed community is going to have to let itself be transformed by Jesus’ Resurrection. The storm came down upon God’s House, violence, curses, even death itself caused ravage! The Risen Lord Jesus passed through all this with an Infinite Love.
The disciples will have to bear witness and ’give the reason of the hope that is in them.’
Baptised by water come out of Jesus side, Life is overflowing in sources bursting forth in the heart of believers; the Love of God’s Heart, ’too full’, is overflowing on the world.
"Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed but Jesus came in and stood among them. ’Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas ’Put your finger here ; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand, put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving anymore but believe’.
Thomas replied ’My Lord and my God!’
Jesus said to him, ’You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.“There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but they are not recorded in this book.”
The disciples will have to bear witness and ’to give the reason for the hope that is in them."
Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete who bears witness in favour of Jesus. This Spirit of Truth attests to each one that he is a child of God and heir.
The Spirit of Holiness says to each once again : ’Abba, Father.’ and he intercedes for each one with a groan that goes beyond all words. Thus the Eucharist has us live each day in the peace and joy of the Risen Lord Jesus. The Church is at the same time a reminder of Jesus’ work, making present the Life of the Lord and prophesy of Glory, in Jesus Christ, for all mankind loved by God.
Baptised by the water come out of Jesus’ side, Life is overflowing in sources that burst forth in the heart of believers. God’s Heart, which is so full of overflowing Love, overflows onto the world.