Be Not Unbelieving but Believe: Reflections on the Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy), Cycle A

If you haven’t already read the readings you can find them here.

Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 118
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

(Note: The psalm and the gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, are constant, the first and second readings vary by yearly cycle.)

Jesus told St. Faustina that He wanted the Sunday after Easter to be commemorated to His Divine Mercy, and so Pope St. John Paul II instituted the Feast Day of the Divine Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday, at the same time that He canonized St. Faustina. This is an opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence (that's a Big Deal). Check your parish/diocese for details.

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.” This is another way of saying that the Mass and the Eucharist were central to the lives of the early Church. The Mass is our celebration of the Eucharist which is the “source and summit of Christian life.” (Lumen Gentium 13, CCC 1324)

We saw this on Easter morning. One of the first things He did after the Resurrection was to celebrate the Mass with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). At the Last Supper Jesus told the apostles He would not leave them orphaned. He remains with us today in the Eucharist as He did with those disciples. In this reading as well as the encounter on the way to Emmaus, we also see the two main divisions of the Mass – the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

The psalm, one of the Hallel psalms, tells us, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Jesus quoted this psalm when He referred to Himself as the cornerstone after telling the pharisees the parable of the tenants in the vineyard who had killed the owner’s son. At that time he told them “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” (Matthew 21:43) They could tell he was criticizing them and also that the kingdom would be open to the Gentiles and wanted to kill Him for it. And Peter when he and John were called before the council for preaching about Jesus also referred to Jesus as the cornerstone which [they, the Sanhedrin] had rejected. In the final account, however, “By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.”

As is appropriate for this time when the apostles despaired that all the faith they had put into their life with Jesus was in vain, but now with His Resurrection they are made whole, Peter talks about “a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” However, it was a trial and one that tested their faith and their trust in Jesus. Peter tells us that we will undergo trials as well. “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Through our faith we will attain the salvation of our souls.

We get a similar reminder in the letter of James: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ... Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.” (James 1:2-3, 12) And, in Revelation, Jesus tells John, “Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

For the gospel selection, it’s still Sunday, the day of Resurrection, when Jesus comes to the apostles in the upper room, even though the doors were locked “for fear of the Jews.” As if to reinforce His teaching of the past three years Jesus recommissions them to go out into the world, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Thomas, however, is not with them, but shows up when Jesus returns again a week later. Despite the fact that Thomas had witnessed Jesus’ miracles as well as having lived with Him and the other disciples, he did not believe them when they told him Jesus had appeared to them. Thomas insisted on physical proof. This time Jesus makes a point to tell Thomas to “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.”

Jesus was pointing to the future (and to us) when He said, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” But this event has additional significance which we see in the letters of Peter and in the various testimonies we read about in Acts of the Apostles. Not only do the apostles testify to seeing Jesus, but they also talk about eating with Him and touching Him; attesting to His physical presence (not mystical) after His death.

Another significant facet of this encounter is the establishment of the sacrament of reconciliation. “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.” Again, we get a little more insight from the letter of St. James: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)

As John closes this section of his gospel, pointing to some of the examples he highlights, “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.” (Emphasis added.)

In a few more weeks we will see that even with these events the disciples needed further strengthening and encouragement. Some will come directly from the resurrected Jesus while others will have to wait for the coming of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, on the Pentecost. Similarly, we should not expect completeness of revelation to come upon us suddenly. If those who lived with Him for three years and were personal witnesses of His Resurrection took all that time to understand and growth of their understanding continued even afterwards, so it will be with us.