2024/04/07 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Second Sunday of Easter / Sunday of Divine Mercy
- Joanna Krynski, Communications Manager
What would it have felt like to be Thomas in today’s Gospel? To be the one of the Twelve who was not there when “Jesus came and stood in their midst”?
To have been the one to have missed this tremendous moment of seeing and interacting with the Resurrected Christ?
What would it have been like to return to the locked room expecting to find the other disciples still trembling and hiding in fear – and you likely still feeling fearful yourself – but instead, to find them rejoicing and confident in their faith of having seen the Risen Lord? And for that whole week that followed, what would it have been like to (presumably) hear repeatedly about what you missed, to hear from the other disciples the retelling of their experience, about their purpose and mission bestowed on them by the Risen Lord himself to continue the work that He began, and how they received the Holy Spirit to be able to accomplish this task… I can’t help but wonder, what was that week like for Thomas? What uncomfortable human emotions might he have been wrestling with during this time that may have led to his doubt? Did he truly not find validity in the encounter his friends spoke of or the (presumably) undeniable change in them? Or was Thomas using his “doubt” to mask other feelings – perhaps jealousy? Disappointment? Guilt for not having been there? Unworthiness? Hurt or rejection that Jesus came when he wasn’t there? Or fear that if it was true, then it meant he missed his chance to have a life-changing encounter with the Risen Lord? Whatever Thomas may have been feeling, we see he doesn’t give up on his faith, he doesn’t leave. To me his doubt illustrates the deep longing he had to be as close with Jesus as his friends seemed to be.
I wonder how often I let things like jealousy, hurt, or fear keep me from seeing God in those around me.
We know that Thomas did not miss his chance for the encounter he desired. Jesus returned, seemingly specifically for Thomas. It didn’t matter that Thomas was perhaps undeserving of coming face to face with Jesus. With a heart full of mercy, Jesus met Thomas exactly where he was. Jesus knows and loves Thomas, and so he gives Thomas precisely the intimate encounter he needed to believe: “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.”
God’s mercy is nothing we earn and is part of God’s love for us. As John Paul II said, mercy is “love’s second name.” We turn away from God time and time again and yet, God in His Divine Mercy, doesn’t hesitate to love us in our brokenness, in our doubt, to meet us where we are and reach out to us, to welcome us with open arms.
Thomas is our witness that Jesus is really risen. We are called to believe without seeing. But we still can have life-changing encounters with God. God will speak to us in whatever way we might readily believe, perhaps through a powerful moment in Scripture, through a testimony from a member of our faith community, through personal prayer, through a big life experience, or simply a kind word from another. If you’re having trouble “seeing” where God is in your life, perhaps reflect on what might be behind the doubt? You might try calling on the Holy Spirit for guidance. And know, God is reaching out to you, and will continue to do so. God readily offers His love and mercy to heal you and so He may dwell within you so “you may have life in his name.”