Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 4:32-35
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 4:32-35
This selection from Acts is the second summary describing the community of faith at Jerusalem. The description is of a community completely unified in the faith of the risen Lord living, in accordance with the practices followed by the disciples when they were with Jesus, sharing all material possessions.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
This litany of thanksgiving features the cornerstone image that, in addition to the Acts selection above, was also used in the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 12:10) and the first epistle of St. Peter (1 Peter 2:7) (there are 9 other references in the NAB as well).
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Reading II: 1 John 5:1-6
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-6
St. John begins his discourse with the logic that defines what it means to be Christian. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands, is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil, even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[4]
The Evangelist concludes by referring to Blood which is a symbol of the Cross. In that event also was God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). His logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of His Son.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "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 n ot 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."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 20:19-31
St. John gives us the picture of the disciples (now Apostles) in hiding immediately following the Lord’s crucifixion. Twice Jesus comes to them once with Thomas absent and then again when he is present.
There are a number of very important elements of this version of the story. First, the Lord’s greeting, “Peace be with you.” While this may have been a simple Shalom, it is more likely intended to emphasize the rejoicing sense of the meeting. Immediately the Lord sends them on their mission, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you." As part of this action we are told the Lord gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them and gives them authority to act in his name.
The significance of Thomas’ absence is used as an evangelizing moment. Doubting Thomas is confronted in the second visit by the risen Christ and almost in recompense for his role as disbeliever; he provides the title with which Jesus is understood now as True God as well as True Man – “My Lord and my God.”
The Lord then delivers a beatitude for future generations of Christians; “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Acts 4:32-35
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Acts 4:32-35
This selection from Acts is the second summary describing the community of faith at Jerusalem. The description is of a community completely unified in the faith of the risen Lord living, in accordance with the practices followed by the disciples when they were with Jesus, sharing all material possessions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
This litany of thanksgiving features the cornerstone image that, in addition to the Acts selection above, was also used in the Gospel of St. Mark (Mark 12:10) and the first epistle of St. Peter (1 Peter 2:7) (there are 9 other references in the NAB as well).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reading II: 1 John 5:1-6
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 5:1-6
St. John begins his discourse with the logic that defines what it means to be Christian. “Children of God are identified not only by their love for others (1 John 4:7-9) and for God but by their belief in the divine sonship of Jesus Christ. Faith, the acceptance of Jesus in his true character and the obedience in love to God's commands, is the source of the Christian's power in the world and conquers the world of evil, even as Christ overcame the world (John 16:33).”[4]
The Evangelist concludes by referring to Blood which is a symbol of the Cross. In that event also was God’s own testimony about the identity of his Only Son (Matthew 3:16-17). His logic in this passage teaches that if one does not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, they call God a liar because he testified to the identity of His Son.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "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 n ot 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."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 20:19-31
St. John gives us the picture of the disciples (now Apostles) in hiding immediately following the Lord’s crucifixion. Twice Jesus comes to them once with Thomas absent and then again when he is present.
There are a number of very important elements of this version of the story. First, the Lord’s greeting, “Peace be with you.” While this may have been a simple Shalom, it is more likely intended to emphasize the rejoicing sense of the meeting. Immediately the Lord sends them on their mission, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you." As part of this action we are told the Lord gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them and gives them authority to act in his name.
The significance of Thomas’ absence is used as an evangelizing moment. Doubting Thomas is confronted in the second visit by the risen Christ and almost in recompense for his role as disbeliever; he provides the title with which Jesus is understood now as True God as well as True Man – “My Lord and my God.”
The Lord then delivers a beatitude for future generations of Christians; “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We celebrated Christ Risen a week ago. Having been given the faith by those who went before us, we knew what came next and rejoiced. Even while we did that, the disciples were trying to sort out what parts of the amazing things Jesus told them were parables and allegory and what parts were literally true (no one had written this story for them to see the bold headings "Parable of the Talents" or some other teaching lesson) and what they should expect. We can imagine John saying; "Holy cow, (it probably translated differently in Aramaic) what if when the Lord talked about wheat falling to the ground and dying, that meant us too?" Or Peter saying; "What did he mean, I am a rock and upon this rock I will build my Church?"
As usual, the women were the bravest. They were the ones who went to the tomb so that all that should be done for the dead was done. The other disciples were probably asking them not to risk it. To them belongs the first honor of seeing the empty tomb and understanding. They were the ones to hear first the news that was sung by all the choirs of heaven, the same choirs that announced his birth, that "He is risen! He is no longer here. See where they laid him."
And now Jesus comes to his closest friends, still hiding in fear, and says to them; "Peace be with you." At the time Jesus first appeared to the disciples and gave them those words of peace- it must have been necessary to keep them from fleeing the room. He gave them that first gift of peace, the one they most needed. The blocks fell into place as they saw his form - the same as always, yet different. The expressions they had last seen during the pain and sorrow of his horrific passion and death were replaced by a wise and somehow sad countenance they had seen for three years.
He breathed on them and they were at peace. He spoke to them and their fear melted away like wax to be replaced by joy. He was with them again and they were whole.
But we were not there to see the Risen Lord stand and walk and breath. Thomas was us, was he not? He could not believe what his friends told him when he returned. He was probably thinking ("What if they are hysterical?"). After all, they must have been jumping around like wild men, shouting with glee - he is risen, we have seen him, praise God, he is returned to us. If we walked into a room where we had left our closest friends a short time earlier, cowering in fear, and found them jumping around like that what would we have felt?
So he took the wind right out of their sails by saying what was on his mind. "I do not believe you."
That must have been like a bucket of cold water thrown on these rejoicing figures. They probably stopped mid-prance and started trying to get him to understand. "Thomas, he was here. He came to us even though the doors were locked and he stood right here with us. You have to believe."
Again Thomas sobers them with; "I will not believe it until I put my fingers into the nail prints in his hands and my hand into the wound in his side." If they had been my friends in the same situation, they would have just shrugged and gone off to celebrate more among themselves.
For our sake, however, St. Thomas, Doubting Thomas, redeemed himself in spades when the Lord returned and he was there. He was the first to take the leap from; "Jesus our teacher and friend has returned to us as he said." To; "Jesus truly is the Christ, the Son of God." It was Thomas, not Peter and not John, who said to Jesus; "My Lord and my God." It was the doubter who understood for us the true nature of the man who is God and labeled him so for the first time and the rest of time.
It is Thomas we need to be like as we struggle with our faith without seeing. It is Thomas we must emulate in our own on going conversation. It is from our hearts we must respond to him; "My Lord and my God!"
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used is “Doubting Thomas” by Guercino, 1650
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[4] See NAB footnote on 1 Jn 5:1-5
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