Gospel Reflection Apr 12 – Kim VanHuffel
Sunday, April 12
Second Sunday of Easter
John 20: 19-31
Gospel:
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.
Gospel Reflection:
I already wrote a reflection on this gospel passage a couple of years ago and focused on Thomas. I decided not to cheat and use that one again! Instead, as the living word does, the gospel is speaking to me in a different way this year. What stands out to me this time are three important components of Jesus’ message to the disciples.
The first is about peace. Jesus greets them and the first thing he says is “shalom.” Not once, but twice, then again later when Thomas is present. We translate shalom to mean “peace be with you.” A good translation. However, in biblical terms, when Jesus speaks these words after his resurrection, the word invokes the perfect peace that humans were meant to have had in the garden of Eden — the harmony promised at the creation of the world. It is interesting that this gospel passage is paired with the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47) as our first reading this weekend, because that reading describes that perfect peace as closely as we can come here on earth. The apostles devoted themselves to one another, shared all things, prayed, broke bread together, ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart. They loved and took care of one another. This is what Jesus wanted for them and wants for us.
The second component is about belief. John uses a version of the verb “believe” 98 times in his gospel. For John, belief in Jesus is the key that unlocks salvation. We tend to be hard on Thomas, labeling him “Doubting Thomas” because he had to see to believe. Jesus tells him “do not be unbelieving, but believe…Blessed are those who have NOT seen and have believed.” That’s all of us!
The third component is about being sent. Jesus has been sent by the Father and he now says “as the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We are all called to share the Easter message, and the joy it brings, with others today, and to bring more people to belief in Jesus.
So the question before us today is — do we believe? And if we do, does it bring us peace? And if so, do we share that peace, and the message of the Gospel, with others?
Happy Easter to you all and congratulations to those who joined our Church this year through the OCIA process!
Kim VanHuffel
Pastoral Associate