Divine Mercy Sunday

After eight days Jesus came in and stood among them.  ~John 20:19-31

Thomas’ profession of faith came swiftly when, eight days after he had declared his unwillingness to believe, Christ showed him his side and the nail marks in his hands and removed every possible doubt.
Our Lord Jesus Christ had miraculously entered the room when the doors were closed. As this would have been impossible for an ordinary earthly body he reassured Thomas, and through him the other disciples, by letting him see his side and the wounds in his flesh.

Only Thomas is reported to have said: "Unless my hands touch the marks of the nails and I see them, and unless I put my hand into his side, I will not believe"; yet to some extent all the disciples were guilty of disbelief. Doubt remained in their minds even after they had told Thomas that they had seen the Lord.

Saint Luke’s account says that, "while they stood amazed, torn between joy and disbelief Christ said to them: “Have you anything to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish and part of a honeycomb, which he took and ate before their eyes."

This surely proves that it was not only in the mind of blessed Thomas that disbelieving thoughts still lurked, but in the minds of the other disciples as well. It was their very astonishment that made them slow to believe, but when it became impossible to disbelieve what they could see with their own eyes, blessed Thomas made his profession of faith: "My Lord and my God."

Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.”

There was a wonderful providence behind these words of the Savior, and they can be of very great help to us. They show once again how much he cares for our souls, for he is good and as Scripture says: He wants everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

Even so, this saying of his may surprise us.

As always, Christ had to be patient with Thomas when he said he would not believe and with the other disciples too when they thought they were seeing a ghost.

Because of his desire to convince the whole world, he most willingly showed them the marks of the nails and the wound in his side; because he wished those who needed such signs as a support for their faith to have no possible reason for doubt, he even took food although he had no need for it.

But when anyone accepts what he has not seen, believing on the word of his teacher, the faith by which he honors the one his teacher proclaims to him is worthy of great praise.

Blessed, therefore, is everyone who believes the message of the holy apostles who, as Luke says, were eyewitnesses of Christ’s actions and ministers of the word.

If we desire eternal life and long for a dwelling place in heaven, we must listen to them.

St. Cyril of Alexandria, d. 444
Commentary on John’s Gospel 12, 22: PG 74, 729-36

O my Jesus, risen from the dead and among us still, deliver me from my fearfulness and disbelief that I may live to praise Your mercy and proclaim Your glory.  Amen.  Alleluia!

 And to him my soul shall live.  ~Psalm 21:31