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 to 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 Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
John 20:19-31 (NABRE)
A fitting reading for this Feast of Divine Mercy.
Each “block” of text here will be treated separately. There is so much to chew and savor in this account of one of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances.
First, we see two effects of the mission and ministry of the Apostles: forgiveness of sins and the peace of Christ, which are bonded with an intimate connection. Jesus makes his disciples ministers of mercy in expressly giving them the authority to forgive sins on earth. To this day, the successors to the Apostles in the episcopacy and their collaborators in the presbyterate forgive the sins of penitents through the Sacrament of Confession. As a Catholic, I am overly appreciative of this wonderful sacrament that Jesus Christ gave to his Holy Catholic Church. Jesus institutes a “tribunal of mercy,” as He describes it to St. Faustina Kowalska, that is such a tangible and concrete way to experience the forgiveness of sins that is granted so generously by our Savior. With the graces that come from this sacrament is the peace of Christ. This is a peace that gives us a preview of what is to come in Heaven. A peace that reminds us of the love with which Jesus showers us constantly. A peace from the Prince of Peace who gives to us abundantly and draws us to blissful communion with Him in his Kingdom. How generous is our Lord and God!
Next, we see the the beautiful patience of the risen Jesus. Thomas is also called “Didymus,” which means “the twin” in Greek. How often do we feel like “twins” of Thomas in our struggle to keep the faith? Jesus is patient with us, just as He was so patient with Thomas, approaching him not with words of condemnation, but with a greeting of peace. Jesus invites Thomas to have faith and helps him come to believe by putting on display his wounds for examination. Our Lord addresses both Thomas and his “twins” in inviting him and those who come to believe in the future to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
Finally, we see another plain invitation to come to believe and accept a life lived in gratitude for and reliance on the grace and peace of our God.
Thank you for reading. Peace.
Eat the Scroll 