Posted: 4/12/2012 6:01:29 PM EDT
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First Reading:
Acts 4:32-35 32 Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R. Alleluia. Let the house of Israel say, "His mercy endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His mercy endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His mercy endures forever." R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R. Alleluia. I was hard pressed and was falling, but the LORD helped me. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just: R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R. Alleluia. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R. Alleluia. Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6 1 Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. Gospel: John 20:19-31 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And 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; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but 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; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 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 believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Additional Study resources Overview of the Gospel: This Sunday’s reading begins on the evening of Easter Sunday and continues one week later—the second Sunday of Easter. Every resurrection appearance of Jesus dated in the gospels occurs on a Sunday. This Sunday is also the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, declared by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000. Jesus appears to his fearful disciples as they cowered behind locked doors. He bears in his glorified body the scars of his Passion, showing he has the same body he was buried with and is not, as the disciples fear, a ghost (Luke 24:36-40). Jesus reassures them by saying “Peace” (“Shalom’). Jesus breathes on them, imparting the Holy Spirit upon them. This anticipates the gift of the Spirit to be given to the Church 50 days later on Pentecost. It also institutes the sacrament of Penance, by which the apostles are empowered to forgive sins in Jesus’ name. The apostle Thomas is not present at this first appearance and expresses his disbelief. Jesus returns, however, and Thomas has a dramatic change of heart. Questions: The themes of the Second Sunday of Easter are those of faith and divine mercy. In the 1st Reading, how do the Apostles and the early Church display their faith in God? In the 2nd Reading the ideas of obedience and faith are repeated often. How, in a sense, can these be seen as different aspects of the same thing? Of who or what are the disciples afraid? Of all the things Jesus must have said, why does St. John record “Peace be with you” three times (verses 19, 21, 26)? How does this relate to their fears? To their being sent (verse 21)? How does Thomas’ personality compare with Mary Magdalene’s (verse 13)? To the other disciples (verses 9, 19)? How does Jesus deal with Thomas’ doubt (verse 29)? Under what circumstances are you liable to exclaim, “My Lord and my God!” along with Thomas? How might that prayer become more that a mere formula? Where could you use Jesus’ “peace” right now: in some relationship? In some inner fear? In your work? What doubts or questions about God are you struggling with? What have you found helpful in dealing with doubts? |
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We don’t know where Thomas was. All we know is that he missed it. All the others were huddling together behind locked doors, hoping that the authorities would be satisfied with the blood of their master and leave them alone.
But Jesus wouldn’t leave them alone. Despite the locked doors, there He stood, glorious in their midst, bringing peace where there had been only fear. Instead of rebuking them for cowardice, He breathes upon them the Spirit of mercy and commissions them to be ambassadors, indeed instruments, of His Divine mercy. They are at last truly “apostles,” for they are “sent out,” like Jesus, the original Apostle, who was sent forth by the Father for the forgiveness of sins. Sinners, called to bring other sinners the Good News of mercy. Sinners, called to console others with the same consolation that they have received from the One without sin. Read the rest here - Oh Ye of Little Faith - Doubting Thomas by Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio. |
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PASSING ON MERCY
"Let those who fear the Lord say, 'His mercy endures forever.' " —Psalm 118:4
Fr. Al Lauer, founder and longtime author of One Bread, One Body, would often on these pages define mercy as treating someone better than they deserve. On the first Easter evening, Jesus treated His apostles with great mercy. Though they had fled from Him when He was arrested, Jesus would not lay a guilt trip on them. Instead, His first words to them were, "Peace be with you" (Jn 20:19). It would be understandable if Jesus was reluctant to entrust His disciples with any responsibility. Nonetheless, Jesus still sent them out (Jn 20:21), entrusting them with His power, though they were still fearful (Jn 20:19). He gave them the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22). He gave Thomas a second chance to undo his earlier doubts (Jn 20:27); later, He gave Peter a second chance to undo his earlier denials (Jn 21:15). How "rich in mercy" Jesus is! (Eph 2:4) Jesus gives us, His disciples, incredible mercy. Now he has entrusted us with the opportunity to pass on His mercy to others. Who in your life needs a second chance after letting you down miserably? On this Divine Mercy Sunday, be merciful, as Jesus is merciful (see Lk 6:36, RSV-CE). Prayer: Jesus, I trust in You. Mercy of God, I trust in You. Promise: "Who, then, is conqueror of the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." —1 Jn 5:5 Praise: Jesus is risen! "Let the house of Israel say, 'His mercy endures forever' " (Ps 118:2). Alleluia! |
In the 2nd Reading the ideas of obedience and faith are repeated often. How, in a sense, can these be seen as different aspects of the same thing?
Obedience and faith are both gifts wrapped up in the same package of love. The major sign of love is obedience to the commandments. If you truly love someone, you do what pleases them. When something is done out of love – rather than obligation – it is not a burden but a delight and a pleasure.Thus, it's pleasing to us to love and obey God. Faith is a belief not based upon evidence or proof. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). The commandments of which John speaks are the two given by Jesus: Love God and love one another. Holding fast to this love sets your mind at rest; it gives you assurance––it gives you faith! You need not be afraid of doing harm to anyone, for how can you harm the person you love? "Love, and you cannot but do well.” Saint Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 416) |