Skip to main content

The Gifts of the Resurrection




The Gifts of the Resurrection
Jn 20: 19 – 31
Second Sunday of Easter

Introduction
In the gospel today, Jesus appears to the disciples who are holed up in a room for fear of the Jews. Jesus appears to them and gives them his peace and his Spirit. This gospel also recounts how Thomas who at first doubted the accounts about the risen Lord, believed as he saw for himself the wounds of the risen Lord.

The Gospel

            Our gospel speaks of the days after Jesus’ death when the disciples locked themselves up in a room for fear of the Jews. They were afraid they would be apprehended by the authorities and be put to death just like Jesus. Then from out of nowhere, Jesus appears to them and says: “ Peace be with you.”  He then showed them his hands and side. At seeing Jesus, the disciples rejoiced. Then Jesus once more says to them, “ Peace be with you. “ He then commissions them, saying: “ As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Then he breathed on them and said to them, “ Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive they are forgiven them and whose sins you retain they are retained.”
            The gospel then recounts the story of Thomas, one of the twelve who wasn’t present when Jesus appeared to the disciples. Thomas did not believe his companions as they recounted to him how the Lord appeared to them. Thomas, still unbelieving, said to them: “ Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
            The gospel then says that a week later, Jesus once more appears to his disciples. This time, Thomas was present. Jesus greeted them saying: “ Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “ Put your finger here and see my hands and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving but believe. “ Thomas answered and said to him, “ My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “ have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
           
Reflection

Today’s reading seems to present to us a festival of gifts streaming from the risen Jesus. This newness of life brings with it an explosion of gifts given so generously by Jesus who has risen from the dead.
The first of these gifts is the gift joy. Our reading tells us how the disciples were so overwhelmed by fear and had to lock themselves in a room. Eventually, this fear was replaced by joy as they saw the risen Lord. The risen Lord brings joy that takes away our fears.
This second gift of the risen Lord is the gift of peace. The gift of peace, said twice by Jesus to the disciples is a gift that takes away all anxieties even in the midst of conflicts and trials. Peace is not the absence of conflict or pain. It is a gift that makes one remain serene and tranquil even in the midst of affliction.
The third gift of Easter is the gift of his Spirit. In breathing the Spirit upon  his disciples, the Lord was creating something new. When God created the universe, his spirit hovered above the waters to create something new, something fresh. Similarly, the Lord breathes new life into our tired and weary spirits to create in us a new spirit.  
Then the Lord gives us the gift of witnessing. As witnesses of his passion, death and resurrection, Jesus sends his disciples into the world as his witnesses. Just as the Father sent him, so too does Jesus send us. To live a life that witnesses to Jesus is truly a gift of God.
 The resurrection has brought reconciliation between God and man. This is why the gift of reconciliation and forgiveness becomes the necessary gift to all of mankind because through Jesus’ death and his resurrection, God has reconciled the world to himself.
Lastly, the risen Lord gives us the gift of faith; a faith that believes even without seeing. For many, just like for Thomas, to see is to believe. But for Jesus, believing is in fact, seeing; we see Jesus because we believe; we believe because he has said it.
The resurrection of Jesus brings joy and gladness to our hearts. Because of his resurrection, he pours his gifts so abundantly to us who believe in him. Blessed are we who believe!  Happy Easter!

Prayer
Dear Risen One, with your resurrection, you bring so much blessing and goodness for us who believe. Make us know fully the meaning of your resurrection so that we may no longer fear death and evil. Increase our faith Jesus so that we may believe; so that in believing, we may see and touch you and live with you forever. Amen.

“ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” - Phil 3: 10





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ash Wednesday

#DAYLIGHT – Daily #MenOfLight #GospelReflection February 26, 2020 Ash Wednesday Gospel: Mt 6: 1 – 6, 16 – 18 Sharer: Bro. Mike Lapid +++++++++++++++++++++++ Gospel “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2  “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3  But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4  so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5  “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6  But whenev...
Post a Comment
Read more

Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Sower 15 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mt 13: 1 – 9 Introduction Today’s reading presents to us the parable of the sower. This parable compares God to a sower sowing the seed of his word. The Gospel That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2  Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3  And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4  And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5  Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6  But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8  Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth...
2 comments
Read more

An Enduring Performative Word

#DAYLIGHT – Daily #MenOfLight #GospelReflection March 18, 2020 Wednesday, of the Third Week of Lent Gospel: Mt 5: 17 - 19 Sharer: Bro. Mike Lapid +++++++++++++++++++++++ Gospel 17  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. +++++++++++++++++++++++ Reflection AN ENDURING PERFORMATIVE WORD In today’s reading, we hear Jesus offering a kind of defense for himself against the accusations that a number of religious leaders have hurled against him. These leaders have accused hi...
Post a Comment
Read more