Fr Leslie Miranda
| | (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY) | | Acts 5:12-16 Rev 1:9-11a,12-13,17-19 Jn 20:19-31 | | April,11 | | 2nd Sunday of Easter | Thomas was a man of real courage. He, it was, who told his fellow disciples: “Let us also go that we may die with HIM” (Jn 11:16). On Good Friday his fear destroyed his courage, he sought safety in flight. But the man of courage was also a pessimist. He had foreseen what would happen at Jerusalem. When it happened he was resigned to his disappointment. He never hoped for the resurrection. For him everything was over. The other apostles were knitted together because of fear. They attempted to drown their sorrow by mutual sharing. Thomas had courage, so he did not need their support. He was immersed in his own grief. He had not learnt that sorrow shared is halved, and joy shared is doubled.
Thomas, unlike Christ, was a loner in his sorrow, whereas Christ asked others to join Him in His sorrows. Jesus took Peter, James |
| and John with Him into the Garden. He told the three: “My soul is very sorrowful even to death, remain here and watch with Me.” Christ sought the aid of others in His sorrows and so should we.
The ten, minus Thomas, stayed behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Jesus made His post-resurrection appearance to them. Fear blurs one’s vision, so naturally the Apostles imagined they were seeing a ghost. Christ understood their fears and showed them His hands and His side. A spirit does not have flesh and bones. To strengthen them further and rid them of fear, He asked them: “Have you something to eat?” Fishermen surely have fish to eat. They handed Him a piece of cooked fish. He ate. They watched carefully and concluded that He was real. They believed that what was written by the prophets concerning the Christ was fulfilled.
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