Second Sunday of Easter: Gospel C

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.” 

· Why do you think Jesus greets them thus? Could it be because they had abandoned him and ran and he wanted them not to think he had come to condemn them? Imagine yourself in that situation as one of the apostles, what would you be feeling or thinking if Jesus so appeared to 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.” 

· What did the Father sent Jesus to do that Jesus was now sending the apostles to do? To be witnesses of his love and mercy. Do we have the same commission from Jesus? What are we doing about it?

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.” 

· In John’s theology the Paschal Mystery is unified: The Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus and the Coming of the Spirit. In Luke’s Gospel there is a time factor between Easter and Pentecost.

· As the Spirit was essential in the ministry of Jesus so the Spirit would be necessary in the ministry of the Apostles and ours as well.

· Why did Jesus emphasized the power of forgiveness at this time? Who needed to know they were forgiven?

· What is the relationship between the gift of the Spirit and the experience of forgiveness?  How do you connect this to the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

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.” 

· Why do you think Thomas responded this way? Was he reacting out of human resentment that Jesus had not appeared to him or was there something deeper? Have you experienced doubts in your life about faith issues?

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.” 

· How did Jesus know Thomas’ heart? Does he know your heart as well?

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 

· Notice Thomas is not said to have put his finger in the nail marks or his hand in Jesus’ pierced side. Rather he moved from doubt or anger to faith and love.

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 

· Can we relate to what Jesus said to Thomas? Is our faith based on “seeing”? 

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.

· Is our faith in the person of Jesus whether we see signs or is it depended on signs and confirmations?