Gospel Reflection: “My Lord and my God”.
The Second Sunday of Easter is traditionally called “Low Sunday” and more recently “Divine Mercy Sunday”. The gospel extract in the Mass is a heartening resurrection account from St John’s gospel. We are told that the apostles and some disciples are gathered in a room (possibly the room of the Last Supper). They are fearful , not only because of possible repercussions from the trial and execution of the Lord, but now confused because of the news brought by Mary of Magdala that she had seen the Lord alive and spoken with him. What were they to think in either case? They were anxious and afraid. What if the High Priest’s guards were to come looking for them as they had for Jesus...after all for all they knew Judas Iscariot could very well lead them to this location just as he lead them to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Fear and Confusion...a lethal combination.
Original painting of the Divine Mercy
(by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski in 1934)
Into this locked room, into this fear and confusion, comes the risen Jesus in person. His risen body still has the marks of his passion but he is new and transformed yet still recognisably the Lord Jesus. “Peace be with you" are his significant word to them, repeated twice. This settles them and they can start relating to the life of resurrection which he had spoken of in his preaching. But now, no longer an abstract description in words, now flesh and blood amongst them.
The apostle Thomas, at this point not with this gathering, does not believe what the others tell him of that encounter. He wants proof of this being Jesus, proof even to the point of rudeness. A week later the proof is given: the Lord invites him to believe. And Thomas speaks the act of faith many of us speak when receiving Holy Communion at Mass: “My Lord and My God”. We too receive the same invitation to faith as Thomas did. We may have our doubts and fears, but the answer is to trust deeper in Jesus rather then look for his hands or side. It is said that the apostle Thomas went on to preach the gospel in India and that is where he died. Syro-Malabar Catholics secure the origin of their faith in the witness of the Apostle. With them, in the words of Thomas, let us renew our faith in Jesus Christ as our Saviour. “My Lord and My God”. Fr Steve