Second Sunday of Easter (C)

Divine Mercy Sunday

April 28, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Acts 5: 12-16

Psalm: 118

Second Reading: Revelation 1: 9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

Gospel reading according to John 20: 19-31

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Homily

A new day is dawned, a new hope, a new life, a new beginning brought by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.  But for those who are slow to believe they are still hiding, ("for fear of the Jews").  It is still evening (dark) for them.  They still were hiding in locked doors.  “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’.” (Jn. 20: 19). In the midst of fear and anxiety Jesus appeared to them.  Jesus wanted to assure them that he was no longer bounded, restricted and limited to space and time and place, he can even penetrate and pass through to lock doors and stand in their midst.  On that day, first day of the week of his resurrection, he appeared to his disciples by entering into locked doors in a house where they were still hiding, for fear of the Jews, “baka sila naman ang isunod;” they were thinking that they might be the next to follow to be arrested, executed, scourged and crucified, as what they did to their Master and Teacher.   But upon his appearance, Jesus greeted them with peace, “Peace be with you!,” which means do not be afraid, have courage, believe in him; He has already conquered death. “Peace be with you!,” as if he was saying to them, “I have forgiven you because I love you;” he has forgiven them in their weaknesses.  

To prove that he is truly raised from the dead he showed to them his wounds.  “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (Jn. 20: 20).  He showed the marks of nails in his hands and feet, and his side pierced by soldier’s lance.  Jesus knew the mentality of the Jews, for he is also a Jew, “to see is to believe, to see signs;” you have to show evidence so that they might believe in you.  And he showed the proof and that was the only time the disciples recognized Jesus and accepted his resurrection and they rejoiced of what they had seen and witnessed.

Jesus, as a true leader, he wanted his disciples to show themselves outside that locked doors and go to the whole world to proclaim the good news, the love of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit to the whole world.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you’.” (Jn. 20: 21).  “Katulad niya,” as he was sent by God his Father in the world to proclaim the Reign-Kingdom of God, he also wanted his disciples to do the same.  They will bring his peace in the whole world as he said to them the second time, “Peace be with you.”  They will be sent to proclaim the peace of the risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..

As a true leader also, he cannot send his disciples empty handed, without any thing. To have a strength and courage to go to the whole world, he has given them the Holy Spirit, the breath of the Holy Spirit, by breathing them. “And when he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’.” (Jn. 20: 22).  He shared with them his Spirit of truth, justice and right, love, and the goodness of God in them.  They were given authority to forgive sins.  “’Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’.” (Jn. 20: 23). As his disciples, one of the characteristics that they are being sent by Jesus is to forgive sins against God and against their neighbors.  That is the first task to be shown by the disciples when they go out to where they are hiding to all the people they will meet even to the Jews they feared. 

One of the disciples was hiding somewhere.  He was not with the other disciples.  He was Thomas, the Twin.  “Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came” (Jn. 20: 24).  He was not present when Jesus appeared to the other disciples and some followers.  We do not know where he was hiding, and maybe he was only later informed about the appearance of Jesus when they saw him in his hiding place.

When he came to the place where the other disciples were hiding, a big news about the resurrection and appearance of Jesus was told to him.  “So the other disciples said to 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 into the nail-marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe’.” (Jn. 20: 25).  But because he did not witness the apparition of Jesus he cannot believe what they were saying to him.  He has no idea of how it happened for he too was not around when their Master and Teacher were tortured, carried the cross, crucified and died, after three days was resurrected from the dead.  He cannot believe also of what he does not see the sign.

This time, Thomas was with the other disciples and the rest of the followers.  “Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you’.” (Jn. 20: 26).  Jesus once again appeared to his disciples.  He came in despite of the doors were closed and locked and stood in their midst and again he gave them a greeting of peace. 

He came to Thomas, looked at him with love and understanding in his little faith.  “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see may hand, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be disbelieving but believe’.” (Jn. 20: 27).  Jesus allowed Thomas to touch with his finger the hand of him marked with nail as well as his opened side.  What a privilege chance and blessing to this wonderful providence, to touch the hands and feet and side of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Thomas full of awe, amazement and surprises was lost of what to say or do, except this deep faith and belief.  “Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’.” ((Jn. 20: 28).  In the bottom of his heart he recognized his love and devotion to his Lord and his God.  He expressed his belief and faith to the risen Lord and God.

Jesus affirmed what Thomas uttered and without reservation of conviction, but he made more astonishing and beyond belief for those who did not see him, not seeing him yet, and have not seen him however they believed. “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed’.” (Jn. 20: 29).  Even we who do not yet see him we believe in him and we believe that truly he resurrected from the dead he is alive and will live forever.

John’s conclusion of his gospel – the good news of the many signs and wonders Jesus has performed and done to his disciples while he was still alive here on earth, much more when he died and resurrected, and even more so beyond of his constantly new life in heaven and on earth.  “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name” (Jn. 20: 30-31). According to John that the whole world cannot contain all the words, works, signs and wonders of Jesus.  He only selected a few among many other signs and wonders Jesus performed to his disciples and to his followers and for our sake that we might believe in him, worship him, and above all love him and by doing so we may belong to him.