John 20:19-31
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe”
The apostles have the privilege of seeing the Risen Christ with their human eyes. This time He appears to them in the evening. Last week, it was early on the morning of His Resurrection. These are signs that He is present with us at all times.
This time He has many messages, including to reconfirm their faith in His Resurrection and to grant them His Peace and Joy. "Peace be with you...and the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord" John 20:19-20.
Sure of His Resurrection and Presence, He sends them to proclaim the Good News in John 20:21. "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." By the power of the Holy Spirit, they forgive sins (John 20:22-23), which is the ultimate aim of His Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection.
One week later, there's another apparition of the Lord. This time it is to respond to Thomas. Jesus helps him dispel his doubts by asking him to touch His wounds with his own finger. We see Thomas answer, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus blesses those who believe today without seeing the risen Christ with their physical eyes. They believe in Him because they see with their eyes of faith, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed“ John 20:29.
This first Sunday after the Resurrection is known as Renewal Sunday. We faithful are invited to renew our faith and our commitment to witness the Risen Christ in our life among all those that we live with or we meet. We hope that they can believe, obtain the remission of their sins, and enjoy His Peace and His Joy.
May we proclaim the Risen Lord with the apostles, and among them Thomas saying, ”Our Lord and Our God!” Blessed are those who believe in Him and, through their witness, help others to become His disciples.
Christ is Risen indeed, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!