Acts 5:12- 16, Rev 1: 9-11,12-13,17-19, John 20: 19-31
The readings for the 2nd Sunday of Easter invite us to celebrate the boundless mercy of God. This Sunday is known as divine mercy Sunday, a feast proclaimed by Saint John Paul II to remind us that the risen Christ comes not only with glory, but also with forgiveness, peace and healing. In the first reading from Acts, we see the fruits of this mercy. The apostles, once fearful, now perform signs and wonders. The early church becomes a place of healing and restoration so powerful is God’s mercy working through them, that people hope Peter’s shadow might touch the sick. Mercy is contagious when it is lived fully. In the second reading from the book of Revelation, we hear of John’s vision of the risen Christ, who stands among the faithful and bears the wounds of His passion. These wounds are a powerful reminder that God does not shy away from our suffering but embraces it, offering us His compassion. When we trust in his mercy, we find the courage to face our own challenges, just as Thomas did when he doubted yet ultimately proclaimed, “My Lord and my God”
In the Gospel we read the disciples are in hiding due to fear of the Jewish authorities. Jerusalem is still tense after the crucifixion. The resurrection event, while spiritually transformative, hasn’t yet emboldened the disciples in full- until this encounter. The locked doors show the real danger early followers faced, making Jesu’s appearance all the more miraculous. The Gospel speaks to us about the apostles, about two apparitions of Jesus to them. The first one which took place in the evening of the day of His resurrection, and the second a week later. In this second apparition, Thomas who had been absent in the first is the main figure. The Gospel shows Thomas as a man who decided to take any risk on the side of Jesus, when receiving the message of the two sisters of Lazarus, Jesus decided to go up to Jerusalem, which the disciples advised Him against since the Jews sought His life. Thomas however showed his determination when he said “let us go too and die with Him”
The Gospel of today however shows Thomas as a lonely unhappy, very disturbed man. For reasons we do not know, he was not with the rest of the apostles when Jesus appeared to them on Sunday evening. If he ever heard of the news brought by the women in the morning, he must have been the first to consider them as pure nonsense. His reply to the news of the apostles, we have seen the Lord amounts to a flat refusal to accept the resurrection. In saying unless I see unless I put my finger, unless I put my hand, Thomas demands empirical proof. His doubt is not stubborn disbelief, but honest skepticism. Only Jesus could come to Thomas’ rescue and fortunately he did, it is moving to see how easily and lovingly Jesus demolished the defenses Thomas had built up to protect his unbelief.
‘My God and my Lord’, this is the highest Christological confession in the gospel. Showing a full recognition of Jesus’ divinity. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe, this is the beatitude for all future Christians, affirming faith grounded in testimony, not sight. Many other signs, implies selectivity in the Gospel narrative, the writer has chosen material to build belief in Jesus as the Messiah. After encountering the risen Christ, the disciples were called to be witnesses. Their testimony and proclamation of faith were essential to spreading the gospel. Likewise we should reflect on our own experiences with Christ and we should find out our own ways to share this story with our fellow beings.