Second Sunday of Easter Reflection
-
FROM THE PULPITThe morning of the day of the resurrection of our Lord was dominated by amazement, puzzle, disbelief and belief among the disciples and people who had heard the news of the empty tomb and disappearance of the body of Jesus of Nazareth – the crucified. Today’s story that brings us good news starts with the experience of the evening of that day of the resurrection. Jesus came in the midst of the disciples to take away their fear and uncertainty. He brought peace, assurance and strength to bear witness.
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER - YEAR C
SCRIPTURE: Acts 5: 12-16; Psalm 118; Rev 1: 9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; John 20: 19-31.
REFLECTION: DIVINE MERCY
Fr. Benoit Mukamba, CSSp.
The Lord Jesus had taught his disciples and manifested his power and relationship with his Father. He had warned them of his sufferings and death. He foretold his own resurrection on many occasions. But, when all that occurred, the disciples failed to believe the fulfillment of the message of Jesus. Their loyalty was tested and proved insufficient. The apparition of Jesus in his glorified body became a remedy that led the disciples to faith. It was a way of Jesus telling his disciples, I love you despite your failures. “Peace be with you”, Jesus told the disciples. He offered them the gift of peace, not a wish. He showed them the marks of his sufferings that he endured for the salvation of the world. Such kind of love is known as divine mercy.
Jesus does not only show them mercy that leads the disciples to faith in the resurrection but he goes a step farther to empower them to be merciful to each other and bear witness. Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit that will guide them, remind them of Jesus’ teachings and reveal Christ’s presence through the apostles’ ministries. The Early Church recognized Christ working with them and adding more disciples to the community of believers in Him. He appeared to John after many years, directing him to minister to the seven Churches represented by the gold lampstands in the vision.
The disciples who couldn’t believe on the first day are represented here by the Apostle Thomas who encountered the Risen Lord a week later. In his great mercy, Jesus gave Thomas and all of us who are slow of believing, a second chance. “Put your finger here and see my hands, do not be unbelieving but believe”. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” The reality of resurrection calls us to faith in Jesus’ passing from our temporal condition into the eternal realm of God. The appearances help us to transition from the perishable to the incorruptible reality. In the appearances, the emphasis on the physical reality of the risen and glorified body of Jesus preserves the truth of the identity-amid-transformation between the Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus the Christ and victor over death.
God offers his love to sinners unceasingly but it is up to each one of us to be receptive to the mercy of God.
