Second Sunday of Easter – … And Thomas replied: «My Lord and my God! »

… And Thomas replied: «My Lord and my God! »

(Jn 20:28)

“The doors were closed in the room where the disciples were” (Jn 20: 19).

The disciples are still shocked and feel lost: after they have shared the last three years of their life with Jesus, He died of a cruel death and now He is not with them anymore. Moreover, He is not in the tomb either.

Has He risen, as He had said?

Mary Magdalen, who was weeping helplessly, is now full of joy: she came back from the empty tomb, saying that, yes, she saw Jesus. He has risen from the dead.

It is the evening of that same day, but the disciples are still full of fear and closed in that house as inside a tomb.

But suddenly “Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them: «Peace be with you»” (Jn 20:19).  As soon as He greets the disciples, He shows them the holes in his hands and his pierced side, so that they can recognise Him. He does not accuse, nor rebuke them. In his heart there is only joy and peace.

The wounds of his Passion have now become the precious seals of his Love… a Love that reigns victorious over death!

The disciples, looking at his wounded hands, recognise the same hands that touched gently, healed and freed so many people. And through that pierced side, they now can catch a glimpse of his heart, his divine mercy!

Their joy is brought to its fullness.

Only Thomas was not there. When he comes back, the disciples tell him about Jesus. But he is not happy with their testimony. He wants to experience it personally. He seeks for a personal encounter with his Master.

And then, eight days later, the Lord appears again. He shows Thomas his wounds: «Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving any more but believe» (Jn 20: 27).

The resurrection has not closed the holes caused by the nails, and it has not healed the wound on Jesus’ side. Those signs left on his risen body are the glory of God, God’s love brought to the extreme point.

Therefore, those wounds will remain open for ever.

The Gospel does not say if Thomas put his finger on Jesus’ side or not. What we know for sure is that this experience touched the disciple so deeply, that he exclaimed: «My Lord and my God! » (Jn 20: 28).

His eyes, his sight led him to make his own profession of faith. He sees, he believes, and through those wounds he recognises Jesus’ features, the Lord’s love for him.

What about you, what about me?

«You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe» (Jn 20: 29)

This beatitude is addressed to each of us.

“You did not see him, yet you love him” (1 Pt 1:8), through the power of the Holy Spirit and thanks to the words of many witnesses (including St. Thomas!), “and so you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described”. (1 Pt 1:8)

This is the real Joy that we wish you could experience in abundance!