A reading from the holy Gospel according to Jn 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “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.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
REFLECTION
"Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
We want so badly to tell all our friends about Jesus: The Redemption. The Resurrection. Holy Eucharist. Mass. We want them all to go to heaven. I want to share the Lord, who brought life to my soul, to all I meet.
However, sometimes my personaliTy and approach can get in the way.
Sometimes I can be "up in your face" with my joy and faith, forgetting that many do not have the same relationship with God as I have.
I need to not give up but tell about God and His love in many different ways. I can help people experience God by how I act, speak, treat and serve people. A heart warmed to Jesus can be transformed into a burning heart. The mind can then see and understand. And once there is understanding what Jesus has done for us, we can then proclaim to all about Him.
Winston Churchill once said, “"I no longer listen to what people say, I just watch what they do. Behavior never lies.”
Let us gently, with kindness, let people see Love without having to explain. Show them the Person who loves like no one else. Have faith that God‘s Spirit will work. Especially on this Divine Mercy Sunday, may God's mercies overflow on each and every one of us.
Trust Him who wants to give us a full and rich eternal life.
God bless you.
"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting"
(Psalm 118)
