(Easter II — C) “I will stand in the midst of the Church…”

For the second Sunday of Easter, John recounts to us the appearance of the Risen Lord to the disciples who were gathered behind closed doors “for fear of the Jews.” The Lord who at that time had already ascended to the right hand of the Father, now returns — as he will always return — to stand in the midst of His Church (see Psalm 22:23, LXX, John 20:19) and give them the gifts of Peace and the Holy Spirit. The account of the doubt of Thomas serves to highlight two things: first, that the Risen Lord is the same one who was crucified on Good Friday (the polemic against those who denied the humanity of Christ) and second, the blessedness of those who have not seen the Lord yet believe in Him.

Relevant Articles

• My Lord and My God
• Belief and Unbelief

Guide to the Gospel Reading

John 20:19-31 can be divided into the following parts:

A. Jesus appears to the disciples in the evening of that first Sunday (19-23)
B. Thomas’ unbelief (24-29)
C. (Original) Conclusion to the Gospel of John (30-31)

Part A is related to vv. 1-18 by time (“on the evening of that first day of the week”, v. 19). Part B is related to vv. 19-23 because of the explanation that Thomas was absent the first time that Jesus appeared (v. 24). Part C brings to a close the whole gospel; it explains the purpose for the writing of the book: faith in Jesus, the Son of God (v. 31).

Jesus’ appearance to the disciples that evening is that of the Risen and Exalted Christ who has ascended to the Father (see v. 17) and now brings the gifts of Peace and of the Holy Spirit to his disciples (cf. v. 22). With the gift of the Holy Spirit also comes the mandate for the disciples to bring the gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation to the world (compare with Luke 24:47).

The account about Thomas is a pronouncement story. To be noted here is what Jesus says about the faith of those who have not seen yet believe (compare with 1 Peter 1:8-9).

Verses 30-31 closes the Gospel of John. Notice that John explicitly says that he has been selective in presenting the events surrounding Jesus of Nazareth and has given just enough so that those who hear the gospel may be led to faith in the Son of God and therefore have life to the full.

Review of the Sunday Readings

The selection for the first reading from Acts 5:12-16 is actually a transition passage preparing for the accounts of the difficulties of the Church in Jerusalem. Until 5:11 Luke has been narrating how the newly born (from above) Church was organized into a community that was continually growing (2:42-47;4:32-35), the signs and wonders worked by the apostles (Acts 3), the first meeting with the Sanhedrin (Acts 4) and the setback in the persons of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11). The real possibility of sin within the community of the Spirit as narrated in the episode of Ananias and Sapphira or the threat presented by the Sanhedrin does not prevent the emerging Church from accomplishing its mission of preaching the gospel of repentance and forgiveness (see Luke 24:47). In fact, Luke tells us that the number of converts continue to grow as the apostles, especially Peter, gain the esteem of all in their work.

The second reading is from the beginning of the Revelation to John. John is on the island of Patmos exiled for the things he has been preaching. He reports a vision that occurs on a Sunday — “the Day of the Lord” — which was granted him to write about by the Risen Lord Himself.

Suggestions for the Lesson

The second Sunday of Easter has been traditionally called “Dominica in albis”, the Sunday of those in white, because it was on that day that the baptized celebrated the anniversary of their baptism, going to Church dressed in the robes they received after baptism. The story about Thomas as told in the gospel reading was a reminder to them that the faith they received in baptism is not inferior to the faith of the apostles. The Lord himself says that they are “blessed” because they believe although they have not seen.

This does not mean however that the baptized will never experience the presence of the Lord as the apostles did. The Risen Lord is also the one who stands “in the midst” of the Church so as praise God (see Psalm 22:23, LXX, John 20:19), the Bread of Life who still now continues to come down from heaven (John 6:33,41 katabainein in the participial form.) During the Sunday assembly, the Lord continues to give Peace to his people, that Peace he has won in His suffering, death and resurrection. At the close of the assembly, it is the same Lord who sends out his people to bring forth fruits of reconciliation and forgiveness in the world. Ite, missa est — the Church has been sent out.

Recently, the second Sunday of Easter has been declared as Divine Mercy Sunday recalling to us the vision that St. Faustina Kowalska had of the Lord who showed her the Sea of Mercy that flows out of his wounded Heart. Mercy is at the heart of the mandate of the Lord for the proclamation of forgiveness and reconciliation. And access to His Divine Mercy is given to us throught the sacramental life of the Church that springs from the Lord’s heart broken by a soldier’s lance (CCC 1225, 766).

Tags: Dominica, Thomas