The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, April 3, 2005
Second Sunday of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 118:2-4,13-15,22-24
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"I will not believe . . . " John 20:19-31

Standing in their fear, Jesus stands in their midst. He transforms His Apostles: "Peace be with you."

His hands and His side unveil their eyes to hope and faith. "Peace be with you", He blesses again and immediately dispatches them to bring this Peace to souls as the Father sends Him. Jesus in-spires them with the Holy Spirit of God, breathing upon them the power to 'heal the wounds of sin through the forgiveness of sins.' "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20:23)

Thomas persists in his fears, for he has not experienced their "eye-opening" faith; the blessings of Peace, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the commissioning to heal through the forgiveness of sins. Fear shutters his will to see Truth. He has lost his beloved Lord. He will not lose himself. "I will not believe...." Thomas declares, "....unless I see."

Jesus hastens to heal Thomas, "Peace be with you." Absolved, Thomas "sees," and is healed. He 'enters into the kingdom of God, the very wounds Jesus gives him as a refuge for peace and rest. This is the very kingdom we "enter in" and which enters us in the most holy Eucharist. The very wounded flesh and blood given to us, as to Thomas, restores us in Jesus. Eucharistically rising anew, we are dispatched for souls to find refuge and healing in what we will suffer to heal, when we will give our woundedness in Him as Peace that heals.

Eucharistically we remain one in Him, His one sacrifice. Commissioned, we are one in His healing, His one peace. Thomas voices our own release from the prison of sin that will not believe, "My Lord and my God."

- Mary Williams
(www.impactbydesign.biz)

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