FIRST READING
Ephesians 2:19-22
Brothers and sisters:
You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 117:1bc, 2
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness for us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
ALLELUIA
John 20:29
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
John 20:24-29
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 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.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
REFLECTIONS:
What can give us unshakeable hope and confidence
in the face of defeat and death? The apostles had abandoned Jesus in his
hour of trial when he was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemani by Judas
and arrested by the Jewish authorities. Their fear turned to despair when
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion
for his claim to be the King of the Jews. In that hour of darkness on "Good
Friday" the apostles saw Jesus' death as defeat rather than victory. On
Sunday morning when they heard the reports from the women who saw the empty
tomb, they were slow to believe that Jesus had risen as he prophesied to
them previously. Their despair turn to joy when the Risen Lord at last
appeared to them and showed them the scars of his victory his pierced
hands, feet, and side. Jesus had indeed triumphed over the enemies which
held the human race in slavery to sin, Satan, and death.
The last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to
go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. The apostle Thomas was a natural
pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after receiving
news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: "Let us also go,
that we may die with him" (John 11:16). While Thomas deeply loved the
Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion and crucifixion.
After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other
apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of sorrow
and adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he
doubted his own fellow apostles who also testified that Jesus had risen.
When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles eight
days later, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured
him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized
his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly
God!
Through the gift of faith we, too, are able to recognize the presence
of the risen Lord in our personal lives. The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord
Jesus to us and helps us to grow in knowledge and understanding of God
and his ways. Through the gift of faith we are able to proclaim that Jesus
is our personal Lord and our God. He died and rose that we, too, might
have new life in him. The Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit
that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through
the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in God's word and in the
power of the Holy Spirit?
"Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have
overcome all the powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to
trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen
my faith in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection."
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