April 12, 2026: Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Gospel: John 20:19-31
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 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 nail marks and put my hands 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.
Reflection
See Believe
Believe Doubt
Brave Afraid
Total Opposites (by definition)
Two things can be true at the same time (from life experience)
In this Sunday’s Gospel, we encounter friends of Jesus whose life experience teaches them that “two things can be true at the same time.”
After Jesus’ resurrection, some of his friends hide themselves in the Upper Room and lock the doors behind them. Fear overtakes them. They had seen Jesus tortured and executed, buried. Would the religious authorities do the same to them? They’ve heard of the empty tomb. They’ve heard the stories that Jesus lives. Will they believe the impossible?
To their astonishment, in spite of the locked doors, Jesus stands among them. “Peace be with you” is his hope and blessing for them. He breathes on them – sharing the enlivening, strengthening life of the Holy Spirit with them. He gives them power to forgive some and hold others accountable. Then as suddenly and mysteriously as he appeared, he disappears.
Now they have no doubt that Jesus lives. They have seen him. They believe.
Even so, they stay in their safe house. The doors remain locked. Seeing and believing Jesus lives, they doubt they are safe. Their fear keeps the doors locked.
What about Thomas? He wasn’t with his friends when Jesus visited them. He wasn’t in the house with all the doors locked. Was he so brave that he walked outside not caring who sees him? Was he outside suffering because he doubts Jesus could be alive? Was he so afraid that all he believed about Jesus just wasn’t true?
He may have been afraid to believe and afraid to doubt. Thomas seems angry when he tells the others in no uncertain terms only seeing Jesus and touching the wounds will remove his doubts and restore his belief in Jesus. Did he believe or did he doubt he would see Jesus in his wounded flesh and touch the scars on Jesus’ body?
We know the outcome. For the second time, in spite of the locked doors, Jesus stands among them. He reassures them his peace is with them. His Spirit strengthens them. In other words, he tells them they’ve seen him, so put aside fear so that his mission will continue. Then to erase Thomas’ doubts, Jesus invites him “to touch the nail marks with his finger” and put his hand “into my side.” Thomas believes.
Just like Thomas and those hiding behind locked doors, our life experiences teach us that we can see and be blind at the same time. We can be brave and afraid at the same time. We can believe and doubt at the same time.
That’s life as we know it. So, knowing that, we will do as Jesus commands. “As the Father has sent me, I send you.” To do what?
Action
Listen to the hymn titled “Touch that Soothes and Heals.” The hymn is sung by Micah Spruth-Janssen. It reminds us of what Jesus commands – not suggests – we do.
