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Apr
14

Our Easter Faith: On The Eighth Day

angfrayle on April 14th, 2009

The gospel reading from John 20:19-31 can be divided into three parts: Jesus’ appearance to the disciples on the evening of the first Sunday (19-23); Jesus’ appearance on the eighth day (24-29); and the original conclusion of the book of John (30-31). The selection is made for the baptismal anniversary of the faithful, the eighth day after Easter Sunday. The gospel reading is combined this year for Year B with Acts 4:32-35 and 1 John 5:1-6.

Relevant Articles

Reading Guide

After making your sentence flow of John 20:19-31, take note of the following:

1. When Jesus comes that evening, he has already ascended to the Father (cf. John 20:17)

2. “Peace be with you” is a standard Jewish greeting. But now, coming from the Risen Lord, it takes on a different meaning and force. It is the peace of the Resurrection. What was for the Jews a gift from God’s future is now a reality because of the Risen Lord.

3. Jesus breathes the Spirit upon the disciples. As God breathed upon the man he formed from the earth to make it a living soul, so now Christ, in the act of recreating, breathes new life upon the disciples. John Paul II was thinking about this passage when he writes that Jesus re-expresses man.

4. Jesus sends his disciples with words that echo Luke 24:47.

5. Thomas was absent from the assembly of disciples and therefore would not believe that the Lord has risen. He wanted to see a Jesus that really died and really rose from the dead, not one who appears to have died and now presents himself as alive.

6. “My Lord and my God” is a confession of faith, and not an exclamation1

7. The macharism at the end of the narrative is the point of the story: “Blessed are they who have not seen yet believe.” The macharism answers a question about the quality of the faith of succeeding generations who have not seen nor touched the Lord as the apostles did.

Comparing the Readings

Please read the observations made here.

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles (4:32-35) describes the life of the first Christian community which Luke presents as the model for all Christian communities. The description should be read in parallel with the one given in Acts 2:42-47. The selection from 4:32-35 focuses on the social dimension of community life. No one was in need because everyone shared what they had. Thus community life in this selection is characterized by a life of communion built around the proclamation of the apostles and the sharing of goods. Life in Christ affects even the socio-economic order.

The second reading from 1 John 5:1-6 is explained in this article. As the risen Jesus showed his hands and his side to give evidence of the reality of his death, so in the first epistle of John this reality is emphasized against a teaching that denies the death of Christ.

Suggestions for the Lesson

Dominica in albis is the baptismal anniversary of all the faithful. The macharism at the end of the Gospel narrative (v. 29) is the focus of the liturgy but two things are also emphasized:

1. Absence in the assembly makes one like Thomas, unbelieving. Presence in the assembly allows one to encounter the Risen Lord. One of the things that need to be emphasized is the importance of the Sunday assembly for it is there that the Risen Lord stands “in the midst” of his brothers.

2. Jesus is the one who comes from the Father. He is after all the Bread that comes down from heaven. Each time that the Church assembles for the Eucharist, the Lord is truly present among them. Like in the first Sunday, every Sunday is an occassion for encountering Him and receiving the life and peace that He alone can give.

John 20:19-31
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
19Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you.
20And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.
21He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.
22When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
23Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you.
27Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
28Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God.
29Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.
30Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
31But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
Acts 4:32-35
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
32And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul: neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed, was his own; but all things were common unto them.
33And with great power did the apostles give testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord; and great grace was in them all.
34For neither was there any one needy among them. For as many as were owners of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the price of the things they sold,
35And laid it down before the feet of the apostles. And distribution was made to every one, according as he had need.
1 John 5:1-6
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.
2In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3For this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy.
4For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.
5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth.
John 20:19-31
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
19Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you.
20And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.
21He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.
22When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
23Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you.
27Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
28Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God.
29Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed.
30Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
31But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
John 20:17
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
17Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.
Luke 24:47
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
47And that penance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 2:42-47
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
42And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all.
44And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common.
45Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need.
46And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart;
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.
1 John 5:1-6
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.
2In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3For this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy.
4For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.
5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth.
  1. A Jew will not use the name of God in vain even in an exclamation. The Iglesya ni Kristo preachers would make it look as if Thomas’ ‘My Lord and My God’ is equivalent to the Tagalog ‘Hesusmaryosep!’↩
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