Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday. What is your experience of living with fear? Have there been times when you feared for your life, or that another might harm you?
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel Reflection April 27 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photos: If you are looking for an Easter Season pilgrimage, this quaint cathedral is a peaceful place of prayer with many visual helps to direct your soul to God. This is the side chapel with the image of Divine Mercy displayed. St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral La Crosse, Wisconsin The second photo is from Holy Family Convent, Motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
John 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 nail marks 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 Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Background:
The Gospel for this second Sunday of Easter comes from John’s Gospel. Being the last Gospel written, it presents the life of Jesus in a way that addresses the struggles and questions of the early Christians that were not of concern when the other Gospels were being written. One of those concerns was how new believers could come to faith without an experience of Jesus as he lived, or of the resurrection. With the deaths of those who had experienced personally the living Jesus and/or the resurrection, the questions around coming to believe became even more important. That issue is in the background as John includes this account of the disciples’ encounters with the risen Jesus.
Unlike the other Gospels, John’s Gospel does not contain a Last Supper/Passover account. Instead, John precedes the passion and death of Jesus with a farewell address. As part of that address Jesus says, “My peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:27-28) Later in that discourse, Jesus again addresses the disciples, “You also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything.” (John 16:22-23a) In the text for this Sunday, John describes how Jesus has fulfilled what he said in that farewell address.
The Gospel text for today is composed of two almost identical appearances of the risen Lord. Both appearances take place on the first day of the week. The disciples are gathered, the doors are locked, Jesus appears in their midst, he greets them with the greeting of peace, and he shows them the wounds of the crucifixion. The repetition of these details draws attention to the ways the two appearances are different. The most noticeable difference is the absence and presence of Thomas. When Thomas is told by the others that Jesus has appeared to them, he refuses to accept their testimony. He states that even if the others have seen the risen Jesus, he will not believe unless he can not only see but touch the wounds. In the second appearance, Thomas is invited by Jesus not only to see the wounds but to also touch/probe the wounds of the crucifixion. The third difference is the kind of response the disciples and Thomas have to the presence of the risen Christ. In the first account, the disciples are filled with joy. In the second appearance, Thomas responds with a statement of faith in Jesus as his Lord and his God. The last difference is in the way the appearance impacts those beyond the event itself. In the first incident, Jesus commissions the disciples to be instruments of God’s forgiveness. In the second appearance, Jesus refers those who have not had the direct kind of experience that Thomas and the disciples have had, and still believe — Jesus calls them blessed.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is critical of those who seek some sign as proof of his authority to cast out a demon, do some work that is forbidden on the Sabbath, or forgive sins. (2:18; 4:48; 6:2; 6:26) But in order to help Thomas to come to belief, Jesus returns to the disciples who are still gathered in a locked room, speaks to them a greeting of peace, and invites Thomas to touch the nail marks and the wound at his side so that he will come to believe.
This Gospel text can be a source of meditation either in its entirety, or, if time permits, you may consider meditation on the three sections separately.
Reflection Questions:
- What is your experience of living with fear? Have there been times when you feared for your life, or that another might harm you?
- Do you know people who live daily with fear for their life, their way of life, or their health?
- Are there people in your life who bring a sense of calm and peace to people in their lives?
- What do you think the conversation was like among the disciples as they gathered in that locked room?
- What are some of the possible reasons Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared?
- How do you think Thomas felt when he learned that Jesus had appeared to the disciples without him being present?
- What might the conversation have been like among the disciples when Thomas stated that he would not believe without personally seeing and touching the risen Jesus?
- What do you think the week between the appearances of Jesus was like for Thomas, and for the other disciples?
- Have you experienced in some way God/Jesus saying to you: “Peace be with you!”
- Can you talk with Jesus/God about your experience as you reflect on this Gospel?
