Reflection for Sunday April 3, Second Sunday of Easter (Devine Mercy Sunday); John 20:19-31

Gospel: John 20:19-31

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.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

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 he 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.”

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 Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Do you want to have a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus?

Thomas in the gospel wanted very much to have an up close and personal encounter with his lord and master. He was yearning for it like a parched land longing for water. 

Therefore when Thomas was told by his fellow disciples that the risen Jesus appeared to them. He pretended not to believe yet deep inside his heart he already believed what his fellow disciples told him. He believed already however he still yearned for physical evidence, he wants to see Jesus in the flesh and he wants to touch the very wounds of Jesus.

Thomas great desire to encounter Jesus came into fruition after a week when they were all in that same room where Jesus first appeared. While all of them were inside the upper room lo and behold Jesus suddenly appeared before them all!

Right after His appearance Jesus singled out Thomas by inviting him to see the wounds on His hands and by touching the wound on the side of His body which was pierced by a lance by the roman soldiers while He was dying on the cross.  

If you want to have a personal encounter with the risen Lord it’s ok to doubt first. Then after doubting feed the same doubt with curiosity by discovering more about Jesus. 

Sooner you will discover and feel for yourself that Jesus is real, that Jesus is alive and that Jesus is just a prayer or even a whisper away from you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas