Gospel for April 27 2025 – John 20:19-31
Gospel Reflections for April 27 2025
Resurrection changes everything
In today’s Gospel, Thomas doubts that Jesus rose from the dead. After all, it’s hard to believe anyone could do that.
But resurrection is not his only doubt. He also wants to know why, after rising from the dead, Jesus would still have the marks of His crucifixion? Would He not return completely healed of any signs of suffering?
Despite the marks of those wounds Jesus suffers no pain anymore from them. His love is bigger than any hurt He would receive from any person who crucified Him. That love is what we need to have today. Love transforms suffering.
I often notice that people have pictures of their family or loved ones at their place of work. Those pictures remind them just why they endure all the challenges they might have at their work! Love can powerfully transform the pain you feel.
You will know you are truly healed of past hurts when your experience of God’s love makes those memories no longer painful, even if the memories remain. With God’s love you become bigger than your wounds.
Jesus finally shows Himself to Thomas, but notice that Thomas does not respond, “Jesus! Welcome back!” …instead he says, “My Lord, and my God!” Seeing that wounds no longer hurt …but with love can transform a person into peace is enough for Thomas to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. His Resurrection can mercifully transform your wounds today as well.
Sister Faustina was a Polish nun who received a vision of this merciful Jesus in the 1930’s. It is pictured in the famous “Divine Mercy” painting that Pope St. John Paul II encouraged all churches to display especially on this Sunday.
He had lived through the horrors of Nazi Germany and Communist Russia, and knew of the millions killed in Communist China; three giant examples of the deadliest governments in all human history, so he knew the world needed this message of mercy. After a long life fighting both Nazism and Communism, he saw the collapse of both regimes, and died on this very feast day in 2005.
Right after His greeting of “peace” in the Gospel, Jesus empowers His disciples to forgive sins. Now that they experienced mercy, He wants them to offer that same mercy to all who come to confession with that promise of amendment …a promise of a transformed life!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
I think that Jesus’ wounds are a reminder of what the cost was for Him to rescue us from sin and death. We join Him on Holy Thursday night as we become present at the table of the Last Supper. We walk to Calvery with Him on Good Friday and experience His passion and death. His lasting wounds show us His constant love.
Yes, constant love!
This was so well and thought provoking written that I will print it out so I can be reminded of it often.
As I age ( 79 this year) I am learning to value and not erase the wounds of a long life. Your reflection speaks to me about that.
Pope Francis’ funeral was today. He let us see how to die. What a gift he was! I wonder if you are in Rome for his funeral.
God bless you Fr Dave for the wise shepherd you have been to us all these years.
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, wounds can continue to teach wisdom.
Love your precious, insightful, loving homilies!!! Love that our precious Jesus can transform our wounds for He so loveeeeeeeeeees us!! We must live in love and touch others with our loving Jesusl ove and help our precious Jesus transform our world in loveeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!