Gospel for April 7 2024 – John 20: 19-31
Gospel Reflections for April 7 2024
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
Nobody has a heart full of mercy and compassion like Jesus!
When I gaze at the cross I see the greatest act of mercy and self-giving
of Jesus in reparation for our sins.
May I always acknowledge His great for me!
Ys, the cross is the place to understand mercy.
Having the name of Thomas I decided I would never doubt the story of my. Lord and Saviors
Birth ,Life , Death and Resurrection.. The Faith we Profess is rooted in these events and I think the Apostle Thomas was shown his doubt was unfounded.
I read the Diary of St. Faustina and found it wonderful to witness Her Life and Experievpnces.
The Feast Day of Divine Mercy promoted by Her from apparitions she received during Her Life.
Have a Great Sunday and Enjoy the many Blessings we receive from our Catholic Faith. Don’t hurt your eyes gazing at the Sun on Monday.
There is no way I looked t the sun. I actually do not trust the dark glasses. I had doubts about the glasses but not about Our Lord!
As said, folks I have had the privilege of knowing, and was gifted their fellowship of our Catholic Faith were those that experienced the horrors of fascism and communism.
Based on Lord’s Mercy, they too forgave and were given the Grace to not only overcome the intentional damage but to completely raise above it and claim Victory with all its benefits in the Name of our Lord.
The term, “Viva Christ Rey” is a proclamation of the Victorious win against the darkness of war.
Thank you Rev. Dave Heney, many blessings to you for your pastoral gifts to us.
Yes, even many decades of Nazism, Communism, and Fascism, could not erase our faith.