Gospel Reflection - 2nd Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday


John 20:19-31


“It’s alright, I’m okay…I’m here,” or in more modern terms, “It’s all good.” These aren’t the words Jesus addresses to the Apostles on the occasion of their first meeting after His death. At this point, they were still living in fear, not knowing or believing the Resurrection had taken place. After having spent the last three years in companionship, they now suffered the pain and confusion, the inconsolable grief, at the death of their Teacher. Perhaps they were even beginning to feel a sense of shame and sorrow for abandoning Him in His darkest hour. 

But Jesus does not condemn them. He doesn’t make reference to their failure. Rather, He offers them peace. He gives to them, in person, the merits of His passion. “Peace be with you.” If the Apostles doubted their ability to meet Jesus’ call, perhaps feeling, more than ever, a great unworthiness, He encouraged them and called them afresh. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 

It is an invitation to imitation. Although we are so small compared to God, He calls us into communion with Him. Jesus bridges the gap which separates nothing (us) from everything (God). Through His life on earth, He shared in all of our joys and sufferings, embracing our lowly nature in order that by growing closer to us, we might grow closer to Him. And through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, which we joyously celebrate, Jesus demonstrates the immensity of His glorious love and mercy. Consequently, He raises our nature to a greater dignity, claiming us as His brothers and sisters. By setting for us an example of how to conform our lives to the Father’s will, Jesus invites us to become reflections of Himself. What delight the Father finds in that image! For, He is loved by Christ with the most perfect love, and when we clothe ourselves in the Heart of Jesus, we too can offer the Father an abundance of love. 

        Of course, all of this is going to be hidden in the mundanity of life. Our minds cannot fully penetrate the sublime mysteries of Our Lord. But, we can certainly take hope in His own words, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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