Thought for the Week

2nd Sunday of Easter in Year B

1st Reading: Acts 4:32-35
2nd Reading: 1 John 5:1-6
Gospel Reading John 20:19-31

Homily by Fr. Gavin Gomez

We have all experienced what it is like to have our hopes totally shattered, or broken into a million pieces, this is how the disciples, in the locked room, would have felt. Their hope in Jesus the Messiah, Lord and Master, was destroyed when Jesus was put to death on the Cross.

Yet, Jesus did tell his disciples that God would raised him up to life after his death but, they failed to understand this and, as a consequence, the death of Jesus was like someone had ‘switched off’’ their Light of Hope. Now they were consumed in the darkness of fear, they feared for their lives. Fear can lead to anxiety and even a state of despair, it can make one feel worthless and even lead to a point of total inactivity.

However, the appearance of the Risen Christ amongst his disciples in the locked room removed all fear instantly. They were so overwhelmed with Jesus’ presence among them, that they rejoiced, they were overflowing with Joy, and this brought them instant healing and renewal.

The words of Jesus, ‘peace be with you’, would have meant a lot to his disciples, it said:
- let your hearts and minds be still and calm, free of all worry and fear,
- all is forgiven, there is no need to feel any guilt,
- I have kept my promise look I am Truly Alive.

So, in the resurrection appearance, a brilliant Light of Hope brightly shines again in the hearts and minds of the disciples and it is this hope that will re-energise the disciples into activity.

Jesus, also, breathes the Spirit upon them so that the disciples can live in peace, love, and truth and forgive others as God has forgiven them. That day, their faith in the Risen Christ was instantly restored.

But, there was one disciple who missed all of this because he was not present at that meeting, namely, Thomas the Apostle. Further, he did not accept what the other disciples were saying about their encounter with the Risen Christ in the flesh. He wanted to personally see and touch the Risen Christ before he would believe. These were his conditions.

In many ways, his reaction is a normal human reaction that we all have. For instance, do we believe everything that people tell us? On important issues, that would affect our lives personally, wouldn’t we want to confirm things for ourselves?

Well, this text of Thomas the Apostle is very important for us because we too were not in that room when Jesus appeared to his disciples. So, you could say that Thomas the Apostle also acts on our behalf because this is what we would want to do as well. We would want to experience this encounter with the Risen Christ for ourselves.

Thomas’ doubt and expectations were soon answered when the Risen Jesus appeared to his disciples for a second time and, in addition to this, God had accepted the conditions laid down by Thomas.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to Thomas “Put your finger here, look, here are my hands. Give me your hand, put it into my side … doubt no longer but believe”. Thomas’ reaction after touching the Risen Christ is one of complete awe and the only words he can exclaim in absolute faith are “My Lord and my God”. Thomas really did see the Risen Christ in the Flesh!

Jesus then adds “You believe because you can see me, happy are those who have not seen and yet believe”. But, Thomas’ persistence and Divinity’s acceptance of Thomas’ conditions brings us to an encounter with the Risen Christ at a human level which we can better accept and believe.

This event is recorded for us to deepen our belief in the Resurrection and strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God who will bring us to Eternal Life.

So, the Resurrection and appearance of Jesus’ among his disciples meant:

- freedom from fear and isolation
- hope and excitement about the future
- greater unity and a love
- a strengthening of faith
- and an openness to the mission of Jesus in the world.

22nd April 2006