2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER, A – DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

-
-->
THE MOST DOUBT, THE GREATEST PRAISE





What is unique about Thomas? He was the disciple who could not be persuaded easily (Jn 11:16, 14:5). And so because he was absent when Jesus first appeared to the apostles, this time, he did not easily believe the testimony of the others.



So unbelieving Thomas was that he even set a condition for his faith: to see is to believe; to touch is to believe! Other disciples entertained doubt at first too, but only Thomas embodied that doubt so personally in his life.



But when Jesus appeared, after greeting the disciples, he turned to Thomas and addressed him. The Lord invited Thomas to see him and to touch his wounds. Surely Jesus knew the conditions Thomas stated earlier. Thomas must have been so surprised that the one he did not believe was risen actually knew what was in his heart.



So probably, Thomas never really came forward to dare to touch the wounds of Jesus. If he had done so in the presence of the Risen Lord that would have been a real insult to the apparition before him. Seeing the face of the Master again and hearing the voice so familiar to his ears, Thomas let go of his unbelief.



The irony here is that the disciple who exhibited the most doubt later on expressed the greatest praise in all of the gospels: My Lord and my God!



Is it hard for us to believe in the love and mercy of God if we cannot find miracles happening around us? Do we really think that God has to follow our conditions so that we in turn will put our faith and trust in him? To see the Lord is enough for the Christian. To hear his voice is convincing proof enough for him. In the Eucharist we see the Lord in Bread and Wine; in the Eucharist we hear his words calling us to continue trusting him. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”




Popular posts from this blog

HOLY MASS IN FILIPINO (TAGALOG)

-
Image
ANG BANAL NA MISA PAMBUNGAD NA AWIT Pari:    Sa ngalan ng Ama, at ng anak, at ng Espiritu Santo. Bayan: Amen P.         Sumainyo ang Panginoon. B.        At sumainyo rin. P.         Mga kapatid, aminin nating ang ating mga kasalanan upang tayo’y maging marapat sa pagdiriwang ng banal na paghahaing ito.             Sinugong Tagapagpagaling sa mga nagsisisi,             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.        Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.        Dumating na Tagapag-anyayang mga makasalana’y magsisi,             Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Kristo, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Nakaluklok ka sa kanan ng Diyos Ama para ipamagitan kami             Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. B.         Panginoon, kaawaan mo kami. P.         Kaawaan tayo ng makapangyarihang Diyos,             Patawarin tayo sa ating mga kasalanan,             At patnubayan tayo sa buhay na walang hanggan. B.        Amen. GLORIA/ LUWALHATI
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 1: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
FIRST DAY: DECEMBER 16   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo First Reading: Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8   Thus says the Lord: Observe what is right, do what is just, for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.   Hay is the one who does this, whoever holds fast to it: Keeping the sabbath without profaning it, keeping one’s hand from doing any evil. The foreigner joined to the Lord should not say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”; Nor should the eunuch say, “See, I am a dry tree.” And foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, to become his servants—All who keep the sabbath without profaning it and hold fast to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will
Read more

SIMBANG GABI DAY 2: READINGS AND REFLECTIONS

-
Image
SECOND DAY: December 17   (from the book: Where is the Child?by Fr. R. Marcos (Makati: StPauls);  pls responsibly acknowledge source when using publicly)   fr tam nguyen's photo   First Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10   Jacob called his sons and said [to them]: “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. “You, Judah, shall your brothers praise—your hand on the neck of your enemies;the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s cub, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches, lies down like a lion, Like a lioness—who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his feet, until tribute comes to him, and he receives the people’s obedience.”     A.             Short Background on the First Reading   1. Who was Judah? Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (or Israel). Jacob was considered the father of the nation of Israel and his twelve sons were cons
Read more