Appearance to the disciples

REFLECTIONS TODAY 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 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 Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. Finding the connection The purpose of John’s Gospel is found in verses 30-31. These verses assert that there are many other signs, which Jesus performed, but are not written in John’s Gospel.

The signs that are found in the said Gospel (cf. seven signs) intend that the readers may believe in Jesus Christ and in believing they may have life in his name. These verses constitute that known first conclusion of John’s Gospel.

If these verses are taken as a conclusion, then the passage that narrates Thomas’ profession of faith may be read as climactic. His eventual confession: “My Lord and my God!” (v 28) results from having found the connection between the crucified Jesus and the risen Lord. We recall that Thomas, called Didymus, was not around when the risen Lord first appeared to the disciples inside the locked room.

When the rest of the disciples told him that they saw the risen Jesus, Thomas said that unless he sees the mark of the nails in Jesus’ hands, puts his fingers into them, and puts his hand into Jesus’ side, he would not believe their words testifying that Jesus is alive. Why? Perhaps it is because Thomas was having difficulty reconciling the disciples’ testimony with his most recent experience with them—when they left Jesus during the passion. While instantaneous conversion may always be possible, there must be something deeper than just immediately proclaiming that Jesus is alive.

It is true, Jesus is alive. But this same risen Lord also remains to be the crucified Jesus. In other words, there should be no truncation between the crucifixion and the resurrection.

The glorified body of the risen Lord, after all, still carries the marks of the wounds. We may further reflect on the relationship between the kind of faith we profess and the life we lead. It might have already been very common for us to proclaim that Jesus is alive, especially during the Easter season.

But unless we establish the connection of our proclamation with the reality of our life, we might end up with a faith that is divested from the true power of Christ’s resurrection. Today we also celebrate the Divine Mercy Sunday. Many of us are ardent devotees of the Divine Mercy message and devotion.

Let us gaze upon the image of the risen Lord, the King of Mercy, who keeps showing us the marks of his wounds, inviting us to find the connection between the reality of our life and God’s power to save. Lastly, in his apostolic letter Misericordia et Misera, Pope Francis challenges us to open our hearts to those in need. He reminds us that our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, identifies himself with the poor who, in the eschatological age, “will judge us on our works of mercy (Mt 25:31-46)” (MM, 21).

In the end, the question is: How are we going to translate into concrete action the confession “My Lord and my God!” in front of someone in need of our help?Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd.

, SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.

ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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