Acts 5:12-16; Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19; John 20:19-31
In Acts, we hear about the result of the successful healings that were contributed to the apostles. The people were flocking to the apostles in a seemingly desperate way, and their belief was so strong that they were not even waiting to be touched physically for a healing. They were hoping “that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past”. This belief in wonder works by the apostles was so strong that “all of them were cured”.
Doesn’t this remind us of Jesus’ words when he used to tell people who were healed that it was their faith that healed them?
Only one week after the Passion of Jesus, His Death and Resurrection, we hear about more and more people believing in God. The close connection between rejection and praise also reminds us of St Peter Chanel, the first martyr of Oceania and the Patron Saint of Aotearoa New Zealand whose feast day is on 28 April. In his mission he was first tolerated, then ignored and when his mission finally started to bear fruit, he was killed. Apparently, after his death the island of Futuna quickly became Christian.
Why did Peter Chanel have to pay such a high price to make people believe? “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24) – or in the words quoting the psalm of the day: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.” (Ps 118:22)
In Revelation, John reminds us that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. The Book of Revelation is to reveal and not to conceal. So, John describes a vision that he experienced and that he was asked to write everything down. This way the experience of one person can spread and give hope and life to many. The vision had such an impact on John that he fainted and was “dead like” but he rose through a gentle touch and encouraging words.
This Book of Revelation is often considered to be a book of meditation on the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Gospel according to John also describes an unexpected visit. Jesus appears in front of his disciples despite closed doors. As much as they would be surprised, shocked and maybe afraid, it seems that the disciples foremost feel the joy to see their teacher and friend.
Jesus breathes the Spirit on them – so that the Holy Spirit will encourage them to come out and heal the people.
A wonderful message of hope and of commissioning. Just as in the first two readings, the disciples are told not to hide and not to behave as if they were ‘dead’ but rather to come out and heal and forgive sins. They are not just disciples anymore but apostles – the ones who are sent.
They saw Jesus, heard him and accepted their new mission.
However, what happens to future generations who have not experienced this special encounter? This is where the doubting Thomas comes in. He doesn’t want to believe what his friends said. He wants to have proof which is what we don’t need if we believe.
Jesus returns to his friends and rebukes Thomas in a very gentle way for his disbelief. He knows what Thomas had said, and he offers Thomas to touch him. We don’t know if Thomas actually touched Jesus, but he was invited to do so.
Believing means having hope and life. It also means to trust. No proof is needed.
We don’t have the chance that Thomas had, the chance to touch and feel Jesus with our hands, but we can believe in Him and the Resurrection when we trust in Him – ‘Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
The Easter Season is a time of hope and trust that we will have eternal life.
BM
