News & Events
Second Sunday of Easter
Posted in News
12th. April 2026
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 nail marks 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 not 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.
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Homily
As a young man I had several arguments with persons, normally young who would say to me that Christ never asked us to go to confession. Today I hear that message being proposed repeatedly and I wonder if the violence and crime is the result of not believing reconciliation with God necessary.
This weekend, the second Sunday of the Easter season, the Church gives us for our meditation, St. John’s account of the mission of the Church or the mission of reconciliation and the mission therefore of everyone who considers her/himself part of the Church.
It is important for us to remember that when God created the world, he created a world of total harmony, all of which is described in the book of Genesis. After the sin of our first parents, God, the father of mercy, dedicated himself and his efforts to restoring harmony in the world, a harmony which will be fully realized and described in the book of the Apocalypse. A study of the prophets and of the Deuteronomic code describes for us what the harmony which God wills for the world will entail and the efforts that must be made to achieve the harmony which God wishes that humanity achieves. In this effort of the restoration of harmony the action of many popes has given us the example.
The love of God for us humans is so great that he sent his son, Jesus, to help us work to achieve that harmony. Jesus gave us the beatitudes and the example of his teaching and his actions precisely to help us understand how to go about recreating the harmony that was lost. Unfortunately, the selfishness of human beings was so great that humanity refused to listen, or to understand how happiness and harmony could be restored.
We are told that while the disciples were all behind locked doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus comes, stands in their midst, tells them, “Peace be with you” and immediately shows them his hands and his side. Jesus’ wounded hands and side are the signs that he had indeed died on the cross. His appearance now tells them that he was alive, that he had conquered death. Jesus knows the persecution which the disciples will face. He had told them, “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” Now by appearing to them and showing them the signs of his death, he is telling them not to be afraid of the death which will surely come their way, because He had conquered death. In place of the fear gripping their hearts, he offers them peace and then he tells them, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And then, “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.” Jesus sends his disciples into the world to complete the task given to him by the Father that is to preach the Kingdom and to work for the harmony which God wants for the world. This task is that all men come to see reconciliation with God as important, as well as reconciliation with neighbour, with nature and within oneself. To do this Jesus gives to his disciples the power to deal with the issue of sin which disrupts the harmony which God wants for the world. It is important to remember at this juncture that selfishness is the root cause of sin and the structures of sin which affect our world. It is selfishness which permits and approves the rape of nature for the benefit of a small number. It is selfishness which permits the exploitation of many by the few. It is selfishness which tempts us to turn away from God for our own pleasure.
In this effort of the restoration of harmony, the action of many popes like John Paul 11 and Francis has given us the example. On 29 November 1984, Argentina and Chile signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in the Vatican, ending the dispute over the Beagle channel permanently. Pope Franncis wrote the Encyclical letter, Laudate Si. Urging the world to treat nature responsibly. Dealing with the issue of sin involves dealing with the selfishness which pervades our countries. Unfortunately, the college of disciples is not complete when Jesus comes the first time. So, he comes again when Thomas who was absent at that first appearance is present. In order to be part of the group charged with continuing Jesus’ work, i.e., “to complete the task given to him by the Father that is to preach the Kingdom and to work for the harmony which God wants for the world, Thomas must declare his belief. He cannot be part of the group unless he truly believes.
And this I think is the reason for the renewal of our baptismal promises. Our faith in the risen Lord impels us to be people who accept our vocation to be church, at the service of God’s dream of harmony for the world. That is why we renounce Satan and his empty promises; that is why we profess our faith in The Father, Son, Holy Spirit and the Church. This was the life of all the saints, and this is meant to be our life also. The life of saints is characterized by certain behaviours. Saints always seek to ensure that human dignity is valued and honoured among all peoples. That is why the Deuteronomic Code is valued and emphasized throughout the scriptures. Saints always seek reconciliation. Saints are never afraid to ask for forgiveness if they have hurt someone. Saints have the beatitudes as their rule of life. As we think of our own lives are we happy with the way that we have lived?
As we continue to celebrate Easter, we ask for the gift of faith, so that like Thomas and so many others at all times in the church we may be actively engaged in rebuilding the harmony which God willed for the world, and which was lost through the sin of our first parents.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, You called the apostle Thomas to a deep faith in your son Jesus, so that he could take his place among those called to continue your work here on earth. Awaken our faith Lord so that like Thomas we may dedicate our lives to making your Son Jesus, known and loved. We ask this through the intercession of Mary and your son Jesus. Amen.
