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.
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Reflection:
Do you sometimes
feel alone, abandoned and without peace of mind?
After the death of
Jesus the apostles had this feeling of being orphaned and without a leader. Add
to this was the feeling of fear that was constantly being fed to their minds by
the Jews.
While in a room
meeting and in the midst of their loneliness and fear Jesus appeared to them
and told them, “Peace be with you” perhaps to assure His apostles of His
abiding presence.
The peace that Jesus
gives is something that is elusive to many of us for the reason that the peace that Jesus gives is not a byproduct of accumulation
of money and power.
We may all have the wealth
and power in this world but if we don’t have Jesus we would still be without
peace of mind. We would still be yearning for something far greater than wealth
and that is to have peace within ourselves.
Jesus in the gospel
greeted His followers: “Peace be with you” not once, not twice but three times.
As if to say, amidst your dificulties continue to believe that I have risen,
continue to have faith in me, and continue to be faithful to me because I’m the
only one who can give you peace.
Your wealth will not
give you peace for it may even give you endless depression and pressure. Your
power whatever it is will not give you peace as well. Your friends may give you
fleeting happiness but not peace of mind.
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