IN THE MIDST OF THE RISEN CHRIST

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Acts 4:32-35; Ps. 118; 1 Jn. 5:1-6; Jn. 20: 19 – 31

When one is thriving in darkness, one could hardly move. His thoughts and actions become centered on how to get his way out of the darkness. In life, when one is clouded with heavy emotions, one is advised not to make a decision for he is not in stable condition since feelings fluctuate.

In our gospel today, the disciples after seeing everything that has happened to their Master, were in fear for they might be the next target of the angry Jews. And so, they locked themselves in the room. They could hardly move. They were isolated from the rest of the community. This was also the case of Thomas. Probably, as a disciple, he could not move on from what happened to Jesus. And so, any news of the resurrection was giving him false hopes and adding to his frustrated expectations.

However, in the midst of their closed gathering, Jesus stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then, he gave his friends the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” In the case of Thomas, Jesus specially invited him to touch his hands and his side so that he may believe.

Such presence of Jesus made the disciples rejoice. For Thomas, having fully convinced of the resurrected body of Christ exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.”

Indeed, we can say that the Resurrection of Jesus was not simply meant for Christ’s own glorification and reward after having gone through a bitter passion and horrible death. It had its effects on the disciples, Thomas, and even to us, Easter people of today.

In our first reading, the Resurrection did not only give joy to the disciples but through it, “the community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.” The Resurrection of Jesus did not only take away the fear of the Twelve but gave rise to a united community.

Thus, our communities for them to become effective witnesses of the Resurrection does not lie in being able to stage the best “Sugat/Salubong” productions or to grab flowers from the carozas of the Risen Christ and the Joyful Mother but in the sharing of goods and resources so that everyone will be included and not excluded.  We have failed to become an Easter people if until now there is inequality and injustice in our respective communities and families.

In our second reading today, the Apostle John in a way furthers the profession of faith of Thomas, “My Lord and my God.” For John, to profess that Jesus Christ is begotten by God means that he also loves God. And loving God means keeping his commandments.

Our Easter proclamation that Jesus is truly risen is not a mere profession of faith. It must lead us to loving God which means doing his commandments. We are liars if we say, “Jesus is risen!” Yet, our lives continue to wallow in sin. Our words of rejoicing for Jesus has been raised from the dead are empty if others are suffering and in sorrow because of our greed and selfishness.

Thus, the Resurrection of Jesus becomes a life-changing event in our lives even until today if we allow Him to stand in the midst of our communities and push us to sharing with one another. The Resurrection of Jesus becomes a life-changing event in our lives if we allow ourselves to translate our joyful words of Easter proclamation into life- giving actions of mercy and compassion especially to our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today, we are also celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday. What then is God’s mercy? It is His generous initiative of opening our locked and afraid hearts even if He knows that some will be unbelieving like Thomas. Yet, his abundant mercy passes through “locked doors” in order to offer to us his gift of peace, his gift of the Spirit so that our communities will grow and our words turn into fruitful actions.

Jesus, King of mercy, I TRUST IN YOU!

Photo courtesy of www.divinemercyministries.org