{"id":5640,"date":"2025-04-27T19:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-27T18:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5640"},"modified":"2025-05-06T14:01:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T13:01:03","slug":"commentary-on-2nd-sunday-of-easter-c-28-04-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-2nd-sunday-of-easter-c-28-04-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 2nd Sunday of Easter C 27.04.2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A.        TEXT<\/strong>JOHN (20: 19\u201331)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jesus Appears in Upper Room<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

19 On the evening of that day, the \nfirst day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, \nfor fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, \n\u201cPeace be with you.\u201d 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands \nand his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disciples Commissioned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

21 Jesus said to them again, \u201cPeace \nbe with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.\u201d 22 And when\n he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, \u201cReceive the \nHoly Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if \nyou retain the sins of any, they are retained.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Refuses to Believe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, \ncalled the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other \ndisciples told him, \u201cWe have seen the Lord.\u201d But he said to them, \n\u201cUnless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger \nin the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not \nbelieve.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight Days Later<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

26 Eight days later, his disciples \nwere again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, \nbut Jesus came and stood among them, and said, \u201cPeace be with you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas\u2019 Act of Faith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

27 Then he said to Thomas, \u201cPut your\n finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in \nmy side; do not be faithless, but believing.\u201d 28 Thomas answered him, \n\u201cMy Lord and my God!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

29 Jesus said to him, \u201cHave you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purpose of John\u2019s Gospel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in\n the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 \nbut these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the\n Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B.        EXPLANATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

19 On the evening of that \nday, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples\n were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to\n them, \u201cPeace be with you.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Context<\/em><\/strong>: The preceding immediate two verses (vv. 17\u201318) state: \u201cJesus\n said to her, \u2018Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the \nFather; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my \nFather and your Father, to my God and your God.\u2019 Mary Mag\u2019dalene went \nand said to the disciples, \u2018I have seen the Lord\u2019; and she told them \nthat he had said these things to her<\/em>.\u201d Mary Magdalene has told the \ndisciples that she has seen the Lord. It was on this same evening that \nJesus had appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24: \n22\u201335). Then, in Luke\u2019s Gospel, he appeared to Simon Peter and later \u201cthe Eleven<\/em>\u201d who had already met these two disciples (Lk. 24: 33\u201349).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the evening of that day, the first day of the week<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is the evening of the actual day of the resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is Sunday, \u201ct<\/em><\/strong>he first day of the week<\/em>\u201d\n in the Jewish calendar, and it is evening when night is approaching \nwith its darkness. Darkness in John\u2019s Gospel is the time of evil and \nlack of faith. The disciples are without faith: Jesus has just been \ncrucified and they are afraid that they too might be arrested and \nperhaps killed for being followers of his. Their hopes had been for a \npolitical coup<\/em> when they would have been successful as \nfollowers of Jesus in a new political kingdom. Now all of that has \ndisappeared. Disappointment, dejection and fear have set in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cthe doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 They have the doors locked because they are afraid of the Jewish \nreligious leaders who had had no hesitation in crucifying Jesus. They \nare huddled together in terror. Because of the feast of Unleavened \nBread, which lasted for a week, they are not prepared to try to escape \nback to Galilee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John does not say that they were apostles but \u201cdisciples<\/em>\u201d and he does not give a number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus came and stood among them<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 And suddenly there is Jesus standing in their midst. He came through \nthe closed door. That type of entry must have stunned them. We are not \ntold of their reaction. Obviously they were speechless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand said to them, \u201cPeace be with you.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Immediately he addresses them to re\u2013assure them. \u201cPeace be with you<\/em>\u201d,\n he greets them. This is the normal greeting of Jewish people. But it \ntakes on deeper and special meanings as uttered by Jesus in the Upper \nRoom. A few days before this, as Jesus was taking his leave from his \ndisciples, he had told them, \u201cPeace I leave with you; my peace I \ngive to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your \nhearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you,\n \u2018I go away, and I will come to you.\u2019 If you loved me, you would have \nrejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. \nAnd now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take\n place, you may believe<\/em>. (Jn. 14: 27\u201329).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus leaves the disciples \u201cpeace<\/em>\u201d, \u201cmy peace<\/em>\u201d, peace that is not of \u201cthe world<\/em>\u201d. This has to be divine peace, heavenly peace, what we call salvation, God\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They had not understood then and even if\n they had their memories were clouded. Only with the coming of the Holy \nSpirit will they remember all that Jesus had said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 There is no need for further proof or clarification. By his wounds \nthey are assured that this person in their midst is the same person that\n was crucified whom they had known so well for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Luke tells us of this scene he says that Jesus showed the disciples \u201chis hands and his feet<\/em>\u201d (Lk, 24: 40) John mentions \u201chis hands and his side<\/em>\u201d.\n The wound of the spear in the side reminds us that Jesus suffered and \ndied and bestowed the Holy Spirit from this wound in the form of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen the disciples were glad<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Once again this is something which Jesus had foretold them on the night before he died. \u201cTruly,\n truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will \nrejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When\n a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but \nwhen she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish,\n for joy that a child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, \nbut I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will \ntake your joy from you<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 16: 20\u201322).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cwhen they saw the Lord<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus is referred to as the divine, risen \u201cLord<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

21 Jesus said to them again,\n \u201cPeace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.\u201d 22 \nAnd when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, \n\u201cReceive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are \nforgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus said to them again, \u2018Peace be with you<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Once again Jesus greets them with \u201cPeace be with you<\/em>\u201d. \u201cHis peace\u201d has special meanings. Already we have seen where it includes not being \u201ctroubled<\/em>\u201d or \u201cafraid<\/em>\u201d;\n they are to be courageous. They should be joyous because Jesus is going\n to his Father. They are to be people of faith because he has prepared \nthem for his departure by telling them about it. (Jn. 14: 27\u201329). Now \nJesus adds further insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs the Father has sent me, even so I send you.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Note the Trinitarian reference: \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d, \u201cHoly Spirit\u201d <\/em>and \u201cme<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First he professes that he is a \nmissionary, that is \u2018one sent\u2019. He has been sent by his Father with \nspecial instructions and commission to bring salvation to the world (Jn.\n 3: 16\u201317).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, he adds, \u201cI send you<\/em>\u201d. \nJesus makes his disciples to be missionaries, people sent by him to \ncontinue his work, as he will explain. They are to bring his \u201cpeace<\/em>\u201d, his salvation, to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to understand the full \nmeaning of these words. They were proclaimed by Jesus who had just shown\n them the wounds in his hands and his side. The Father had sent him to \nsave the world by his passion and death. Disciples cannot expect to go \nany other road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, \u201cReceive the Holy Spirit<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 Jesus has just made missionaries of his disciples. Now he fulfils a \npromise made at least three times during his life, to send the Holy \nSpirit upon them after he would enter into his glory (Jn. 7: 39; 15: 26;\n 16: 7\u201315).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This recalls Genesis 2: 7 \u2013\u201dThe Lord\n God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils \nthe breath of life; and man became a living being<\/em>.\u201d God\u2019s breath is life\u2013giving. As God gave life to man whom he formed from dust of the earth, now Jesus gives \u201cbreath<\/em>\u201d to his disciples. The word \u201cbreath<\/em>\u201d and \u201cSpirit<\/em>\u201d\n are the same. Jesus bestows the Holy Spirit on his disciples. This is \nnow a new creation. The disciples are re\u2013created by new life, the life \nof the Spirit. (See also I Kg. 17: 21; Ezek. 37: 9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 Jesus gives to his disciples the power to forgive sins, that is, to \ngrant salvation, the remission of the power of the devil. They are to be\n channels of God\u2019s forgiveness. They are to be Christ to the world. Here\n we see the origin of the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24 Now Thomas, one of the \ntwelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the \nother disciples told him, \u201cWe have seen the Lord.\u201d But he said to them, \n\u201cUnless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger \nin the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not \nbelieve.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin<\/em>\u201d \u2014 It is not known why he was called \u201cthe Twin<\/em>\u201d. The explanation of his name in mentioned again in Jn. 21: 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is mentioned several times in John\u2019s \nGospel. First, when Jesus decided to go to the tomb of Lazarus, the \ndisciples tried to dissuade him because the Jews were planning to stone \nhim. He was adamant and Thomas said to the others, \u201cLet us go also and die with him<\/em>\u201d\n (Jn. 11: 5\u201316). Next, Thomas asked Jesus, who had said that he was \nleaving them, to tell them where he was going as they did not know where\n and so could not know the way to follow. (Jn. 14: 1\u20135). Third, his name\n is mentioned after that of Simon Peter when they were in Galilee and \ndecided to go fishing (Jn. 21: 1\u20133). The fourth mention is the present \npassage that is responsible for his title of \u201cdoubting Thomas\u201d. Thomas \nis more than a doubter \u2014 he is one who refuses to believe unless he can \nhave empirical facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He \u201cwas not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Experts tell us that this can mean \u201ctried to tell him\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018We have seen the Lord<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 At \nthe beginning of John\u2019s Gospel when Andrew, Philip and a third unnamed \ndisciple had found the Messiah, they told Simon Peter and others that \nthey had found the Messiah. Now the disciples proclaim that they have \nseen the Risen Lord, that is, the Son of God. In this way John proclaims\n that Jesus who was crucified is the Messiah and Son of God. He will \nrepeat this in verses 30 to 31 below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut he said to them, \u201cUnless I see \nin his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of \nthe nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The idea behind \u201cplace my finger<\/em>\u201d, \u201cplace my hand<\/em>\u201d is to thrust with force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26 Eight days later, his \ndisciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors \nwere shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, \u201cPeace be with\n you.\u201d 27 Then he said to Thomas, \u201cPut your finger here, and see my \nhands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be \nfaithless, but believing.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEight days later<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is \nagain the Sunday, the first day of the week. The disciples had already \naccepted that on this first day of the week they should assemble \ntogether. Ever since the resurrection the \u201cfirst day<\/em>\u201d, or Sunday, is a more important day for Christians than the Sabbath. It is the day of resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day is also called \u201cthe eighth day<\/em>\u201d, that is the day of the new creation. The first creation as recorded in the beginning of Genesis took seven days. The \u201ceighth day<\/em>\u201d\n is the beginning of a new creation. When Jesus breathed on his \ndisciples as recorded above in verse 22 he replicated the action of God \nwho breathed into clay and created the first man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201chis disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 These words echo the first appearance when Thomas was not present. \nHowever, it is noteworthy that on this second appearance we are not told\n that the reason for the doors being shut was \u201cfear of the Jews<\/em>\u201d. After the first appearance there was the advent of faith and the disciples are no longer afraid of the Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand said, \u2018Peace be with you<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 This is the third occasion in this passage that Jesus uses this greeting. It is very important for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen he said to Thomas, \u201cPut your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus uses the words Thomas used the previous Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cdo not be faithless, but believing<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 Thomas had asked for signs and portents. Jesus says that those who \nask for these are not people of faith but of empirical knowledge. He \nwants people of faith, who will accept the word of God and the testimony\n y of God\u2019s appointed messengers. This is a very strong call by Jesus \npersonally to belief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28 Thomas answered him, \u201cMy \nLord and my God!\u201d 29 Jesus said to him, \u201cHave you believed because you \nhave seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThomas answered him, \u2018My Lord and my God!<\/em>\u2019\u201d\n \u2014 Immediately Jesus spoke to him he proclaimed his magnificent act of \nfaith. He did not exclaim; he asserted. This is the greatest act of \nfaith in the entire bible. What an encouragement for those among us who \nmay have doubts or preconceived ideas!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery often in the Gospels people \naddress Jesus as \u201cLord\u201d. [1] This title testifies to the respect and \ntrust of those who approach him for help and healing. [2] At the \nprompting of the Holy Spirit, \u201cLord\u201d expresses the recognition of the \ndivine mystery of Jesus. [3] In the encounter with the risen Jesus, this\n title becomes adoration: \u201cMy Lord and my God!\u201d [4] It thus takes on a \nconnotation of love and affection that remains proper to the Christian \ntradition: \u201cIt is the Lord!\u201d (Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em>, 448).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This great act of faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ links with John 1: 1, 14 \u2014 In\n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was\n God. He was in the beginning with God\u2026 And the Word became flesh and \ndwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory\n as of the only Son from the Father. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus said to him, \u201cHave you believed because you have seen me?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 We were not told if Thomas put his finger and hand into the wounds. These words, \u201cyou believed because you have seen me<\/em>\u201d imply that he did not insert his finger and hand. He was happy to \u201csee and believe<\/em>\u201d, a regular formula in John\u2019s Gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBlessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.<\/em>\u201d\n \u2014 These are words of tremendous consolation and strength for the \nhundreds of generations that have never seen Jesus but who do believe. \nThe risen Jesus calls them \u201cblessed<\/em>\u201d, specially gifted by God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30 Now Jesus did many other \nsigns in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this \nbook; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the \nChrist, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his \nname.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow Jesus did many other signs in \nthe presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but \nthese are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son\n of God<\/em>\u201d \u2014 John addresses readers personally in these final two verses of his Gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John ended his Gospel with chapter 20. \nLater an additional chapter was added by a disciple of John. Abstracting\n from that extra chapter at this point we can see that these two final \nverses in chapter 20 sum up the purpose of John\u2019s Gospel. John wrote \nthat his readers might first \u201cbelieve that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God<\/em>\u201d. Jesus the Christ means Jesus the Messiah or Anointed One, promised for centuries in the Old Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John tells us that many \u201csigns<\/em>\u201d Jesus performed in his life\u2013time are written by him \u201cthat you may believe<\/em>\u201d.\n This repeats the thought of verse 9 in this chapter. The sacred \nscriptures are stepping stones of faith; all should read and reflect, \nlike Mary, the mother of Jesus, the greatest disciple, and so become \npeople mature in faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cand that believing you may have life in his name<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Second, through this belief John wished his readers to have \u201clife in his name<\/em>\u201d,\n that is in his person, what the name stands for. This life is eternal \nlife, the life of the Blessed Trinity. Sharing this life means that we \nare the \u201cchildren of God<\/em>\u201d. \u201cTo all who did accept him he gave power to become the children of God<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 1: 11\u201312).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APPLICATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Sunday was known previously as \n\u201cSunday in White\u201d. The name derived from the fact that the newly \nbaptised wore their white garments for the last time in public on a \nSunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The titles of the Sundays following Easter Sunday are called \u201cSundays of<\/em> Easter\u201d rather than \u201cSundays after<\/em>\n Easter\u201d. Easter Sunday is known as the First Sunday of Easter. Each of \nthese Sundays has readings concerning the resurrection of Jesus from the\n dead. Each year they are selected from John\u2019s Gospel with the exception\n of the Third Sunday of Easter, Years A & B, when the reading is \nfrom Luke\u2019s Gospel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First Readings on the Sundays of \nEaster are taken from the Acts of the Apostles which records the impact \nand effects of the resurrection on the young Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resurrection is not portrayed in any\n of the four Gospels. There were no witnesses of that event. The Gospels\n describe the empty tomb and the appearances of Jesus to his disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualities of Resurrected Body<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Risen Body of Jesus is recognised as\n one and the same as the crucified body by the signs of the nails in the\n hands and the hole in his side from the thrust of the soldier\u2019s spear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He certainly was not a ghost. We know \nthat this body could be touched (Jn. 20: 17). Thomas demanded that he \ntouch it but we are not told if he actually did. He did not need to \ntouch to believe. His personal encounter with his risen Lord goaded him \nto proclaim \u201cMy Lord and My God<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John in his First Letter describes his faith \u2014 That\n which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen \nwith our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, \nconcerning the word of life \u2014 the life was made manifest, and we saw it,\n and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with \nthe Father and was made manifest to us \u2014 that which we have seen and \nheard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; \nand our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And\n we are writing this that our joy may be complete<\/em> (I Jn. 1: 1\u20134).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that the Risen Jesus could eat. \nBy the shore of Lake Tiberias he fed the apostles with bread and fish \n(Jn. 21: 1\u201314) and presumably took some himself. Luke records that he \nate (Lk. 24: 42\u201343).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are not given a list of the qualities\n of his Risen Body. However, there are some indications. John shows us \nChrist entering into the Upper Room twice and he did not come through an\n open door: \u201cThe doors were shut<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 20: 19, 26). His Risen \nBody is not limited by material surroundings as our bodies are. His Body\n is transformed and has the power of the Spirit. But he is not a spirit.\n He does have a real body. And he does have a special type of life which\n comes to him from his Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(i)        Thomas has often been \ndescribed as \u2018Poor Thomas\u2019. The reason for this is that once he was \nalleged to have doubted that Jesus rose from the dead and the name of \n\u201cDoubting Thomas\u201d remained from that first day of the Church until the \npresent day. He did not doubt; he refused to believe! That, of course, \nis much worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand he could have been \ncalled \u2018The Man of Greatest Faith\u2019 because he proclaimed the greatest \nact of faith in the Bible when he said to Jesus, \u201cMy Lord and my God<\/em>\u201d. Unfortunately he was not so lucky to be called that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us look at Thomas with eyes of \nfaith. We should not rush in to condemn Thomas, the first disciples, or \ntheir contemporaries of today, for their lack of faith. Jesus had \nforetold at least three times that he would suffer, die and rise again. \nBut they did not understand what he meant about any of these three \nhappenings. Descending from the Mount of Transfiguration, the three \napostles Peter, James and John, discussed what Jesus meant about rising \nfrom the dead. The concept was beyond their experience or imagining. Who\n had ever heard of someone rising from the dead? Of course Jesus had \nraised three people but that was different No one could even think that \nhe could raise himself. They probably presumed that he was speaking in \nmetaphors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(ii)       When after the resurrection, \nThomas joined the disciples a week after they had seen Jesus, they told \nhim of their encounter. He would not believe the unbelievable. He told \nthem bluntly that he needed to experience the wounds before he would \naccept that the person the disciples met was the same who had been \ncrucified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is interesting to compare the \nattitude of the disciples to Thomas\u2019 refusal to believe. When someone in\n today\u2019s society refuses to believe, or is even \u2018difficult\u2019 on a parish \ncommittee, the first reaction of many is to demand that the person be \nexcluded or at least be segregated and kept away from the community. \nThat was not the attitude of the disciples. They were happy that Thomas \nwas among them. They sought to show him how he could believe. They \ncertainly did not throw him out of their circle. They had experienced \nsomewhat similar doubts before the first visit from Jesus, even after \nhearing of Mary Magdalene\u2019s encounter with the risen Jesus and that of \nthe two disciples who had travelled the road to and from Emmaus. They \nunderstood how Thomas was thinking, that he had problems but he did not \nsee them as a matter of faith but of resolving his problem in the best \npossible way. Others might not agree with his approach. But he was \nsincerely seeking the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus appeared he did not reprimand\n Thomas but cooperated with him by showing him his wounds. Then he \nentered into dialogue with Thomas, \u201cbe not faithless but believing<\/em>\u201d. That personal word from the Risen Lord was all that Thomas required. He burst into his great act of faith, \u201cMy Lord and my God<\/em>\u201d. What touched Thomas\u2019 heart was the love, mercy and compassion of Jesus who obviously understood him and his problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures do not record if Thomas \ndid touch the wounds. There was no need to do so. His faith was greater \nthan physical evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(iii)     Thomas\u2019 act of faith is in the\n resurrection and divinity of Jesus. The person he associated with for \nalmost three years he now acknowledges to be the same one who is \nresurrected and is God\u2019s Son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus praises him. John adds a note of \nencouragement for us. How blessed are we who believe without \nencountering the Risen Lord in the flesh. Blessed are those who do not \ndemand signs and portents of their own choosing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A.        TEXTJOHN (20: 19\u201331) Jesus Appears in Upper Room 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, \u201cPeace be with you.\u201d 20 When he had said this,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5640"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8374,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5640\/revisions\/8374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}