These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
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.” (Jn 20:19-31)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041623.cfm
Mercy is giving others another chance. It’s what we call a do-over. Thomas wins a second chance for all of us. For whatever reason, Thomas missed the first Easter Sunday—he was simply absent. And when the others told him what had happened, he refused to believe. But the NEXT Sunday he didn’t miss the gathering, Thomas was there. And even though the Lord tells him to touch his wounds, Thomas DOESN’T. Instead Thomas sees and believes and then gives us the highest confession of Jesus in the entire New Testament, “My Lord and my God!” Doubting Thomas has become Thomas is the Believer! That is truly Divine Mercy, a mercy we in turn should extend to others.
Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. (Acts 4:13-21)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041523.cfm
"Boldness," like Peter and John, probably not so much. "Uneducated" doesn’t figure in either because both are extremely well-educated. But "ordinary" fits the bill. And definitely "companions of Jesus." Today’s photo is of Deacon Julio Vega with the Padre in the sacristy of Nuestra Señora de las Lomas (Envigado, Medellín, Colombia), taken this past Wednesday before the early morning Mass. For a couple of old guys, we make a pretty good team.
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come, have breakfast." And none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. (Jn 21:1-14)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041423.cfm
I call this passage, “Breakfast by the Sea.” It is interesting that the Beloved Disciple is the one who recognizes that the One on the shore is the Lord (even after the miraculous catch of fish the other disciples are clueless!). The invitation, “Come, have breakfast,” reflects the Feeding of the Five Thousand with the loaves and the fishes from earlier in this gospel and is a reference to the Eucharist.
While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have." And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. (Lk 24:35-48)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041323.cfm
Today’s gospel writer tries to help us understand the Resurrection—but even here words fail. Perhaps as the writer says of the disciples: they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Lk 24:13-35)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041223.cfm
This is one of my favorite Easter readings because it’s our story too. We do not journey alone, the Lord gives us companions on the Way. The Risen Lord is the Invisible Guest in every meal, because like the two disciples of Emmaus, we too know him in the Breaking of the Bread.
