Gospel: 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. 23If 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.
Unseen Peace Beyond our Understanding!
The disciples were still living in a time of perplexity and fear. Could they become a target for persecution as their teacher was?
Gathered in a locked house, Jesus stood among them. His first address to them was "Peace.” The Peshitta (4th century Syriac Aramaic version) says “Peace is with you!” Is he greeting them, or introducing himself as the “Prince of Peace,” by whom the peace that dispels all kinds of fear is granted?! Isaiah 9:6b-7a, "And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end."
Then Jesus showed them his stigma, the signs of his crucifixion, which became the sign of His Resurrection and the impetus of their mission. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you!" —but never without the Holy Spirit. The disciples are commissioned to accomplish two messages simultaneously: to proclaim the good news and to forgive sins. These two essential pillars of Jesus’s mission are inspired by the Holy Spirit to the Glory of the Father.
For our spiritual benefit, one of the eleven disciples wasn't with them that day. He was informed about the event, but he refused to believe unless he could see and touch. We see how doubt leads to fear and how both lead to mistrust. Here, the Risen Christ is going to heal Thomas of his unbelief, asking him to put his finger into his pierced hands and side. He didn't say to him, “Look at,” but “TOUCH and SEE." At this point Thomas's heart and mind were penetrated by Jesus’s love. He proclaimed his faith “My Lord and my God!"
St. John gives us a new beatitude which wasn't mentioned on the Mount of Beatitudes: John 20:29, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Blessed are we today who didn't see the Risen Lord with our human eyes but we do believe that He is Risen indeed.
This Sunday's Gospel invites us to come back to Jesus, to tell him about our doubts and weaknesses. By His peace, He will clear our hearts from doubts, fear and other stumbling blocks. We may encounter obstacles on our journey of faith that can prevent us from maintaining our trust in God's presence and daily care.
May we also offer our witness and be peacemakers, first at home, in our congregation, in our society, and in our country. Faithful to the Apostolic Church, and in the footsteps of the apostles, we are blessed to be entrusted with the treasure of faith and ready to proclaim it by words and deeds!
One of the most beautiful teachings about why and how to proclaim our faith today could be inspired by the testimony of a church group member saying, “The first priest I met in my life was my mother, the second my father and the third my inspiring rector. The first church I attended was my family. The second was my Church congregation.” Blessed are the mothers and fathers who have received love and responsibility, and with the same graces, know how to transmit the trust of faith to new generations.
"The Peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:7. With Thomas, let us rejoice saying: “My Lord and my God!”
Father Kamal - April 11, 2021