April 11, 2021

Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy

The glory of Jesus’ resurrection was revealed to his disciples gradually, over a period of time. Even after the apostles saw the empty tomb and heard the reports of his appearance to the women, they were still weak in faith and fearful of being arrested by the Jewish authorities. When he appeared to them, he offered proof of his resurrection by showing them the wounds of his passion; his pierced hands and side. He calmed their fears and brought them peace. 

Jesus did something which only love and trust can do. He commissioned his weak and timid apostles to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This sending out of the disciples is parallel to the sending out of Jesus by his Father. Jesus fulfilled his mission through his love and obedience to the will of his Father. Just as he gave his first disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit, so he breathes on each of us the same Holy Spirit who equips us with new life, power, joy, and courage to live each day as his followers.

 The last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was Thomas, the natural pessimist. After Jesus’ death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of trial and adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus, and he doubted his own fellow apostles.  When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized Jesus, he believed and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.”   Christ’s response to Thomas was, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Through the gift of faith, we, too, proclaim that Jesus is our savior. He offers each of us new life in the Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in his way of life.  If you believe in the good news of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, then you will have new life, hope, and joy.