THE WORD
FIRST READING: Ac 5,12-16
Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
SECOND READING: Rev 1,9-11.12-13.17-19
I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus.10I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.
When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.
GOSPEL: 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 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 believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
IN OTHER WORDS
Have you ever had the experience of having a bad day, of so many emotions coming to the fore, but you had to check them because you still had work to do? A very difficult thing to do. But I congratulate anyone who can do it because it is a testament of commitment to do what needs to be done without waiting another minute given its importance. To be convinced that your work is important enables you to have the proper energy and motivation to do it immediately without procrastination.
This is one of the themes found in our Gospel today. The apostles were afraid. They were inside a locked room. Then Jesus appeared and the first thing he said was: “Peace be with you.” He understood their fear and their anxiety. The words he uttered were not only a greeting but a powerful remedy for their emotional turmoil. However, the Lord did not stop with alleviating their fears. Now, he sent them on a mission. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” It is as if he was saying: “I know you are afraid and full of questions. But fear not. I am here. I will always be with you. Now, go and proclaim the Good News to all.”
We are here in this world for a reason. We have been chosen by God to be His witnesses. There are times when, like the apostles, we also are afraid of people and of the uncertain future. But if we believe and persevere in our faith, Jesus will make his presence felt and give us peace of mind and heart. Then he sends us on a mission. A mission to witness to the faith we hold dear. He does not send us empty-handed. Just like the apostles, we are given the Holy Spirit whose gifts we use in order to believe and strengthen our faith enabling us to proclaim the Gospel of Christ.
- Fr. Chito Lorenzo, SVD | Japan
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
