A reading from the Holy Gospel according to the Apostle and Evangelist Saint John
(Jn 20:19-31)
"On the evening of that day, the first of the week, while the doors of the place where the disciples were for fear of the Jews were closed, Jesus came, stood in the middle and said to them: «Peace to you!». Having said that, he showed them his hands and his side. And the disciples rejoiced to see the Lord. Jesus said to them again: Peace be to you! As the Father sent me, I also send you». That said, he blew and said to them: «Receive the Holy Spirit. To those whose sins you will forgive, they will be forgiven; to those to whom you will not forgive, they will not be forgiven».
Thomas, one of the Twelve, called Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him: «We have seen the Lord!». But he told them: «If I don’t see in his hands the sign of the nails and I don’t put my finger in the sign of the nails and I don’t put my hand in his side, I don’t believe».
Eight days later the disciples were back in the house and Thomas was also with them. Jesus came, behind closed doors, stood in the middle and said: «Peace to you!». Then he said to Thomas: «Put here your finger and look at my hands; extend your hand and put it in my side; and not to be incredulous, but believer!». Thomas answered him: «My Lord and my God!». Jesus told him: «Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and have believed!».
Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, made many other signs that were not written in this book. But these were written for you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, believing, you have life in his name."
Reflection
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: CHRISTÒS ANESTI, ALITHÒS ANÉSTI!!
On this radiant, beautiful and joyful day, let us reflect together on the Gospel passage of Saint John that speaks to us of the extraordinary experience of the Risen One with his disciples.
We are in a moment of great significance and deep emotion. It is the day of Jesus' resurrection, but his disciples are still immersed in pain and fear for all that has happened. It is a moment of transition, in which the pain of the cross is mixed with the hope of the resurrection, and where faith is put to the test more than ever.
Let us imagine the scene: the disciples are closed in the Upper Room, with the doors closed for fear of the Jews. They have seen their Master crucified and fear envelops them like a dark cloak. Yet, during this darkness, Jesus unexpectedly enters among them. He does not knock on the door, does not ask permission to enter, but suddenly appears among them, bringing with him peace and hope.
His first words to them are emblematic: "Peace be with you". This is not a simple exclamation of greeting, but a promise of profound peace, a peace that surpasses all human understanding. It is the peace that only Christ can give, the peace that comes from the knowledge that death has been vanquished forever and that eternal life is now within the reach of all those who sincerely believe:
"I leave you peace, I give you my peace. Not as the world gives it, I give it to you. Let not your heart be troubled and fear." (Jn 14: 27)
This moment of encounter profoundly transforms the hearts of the disciples, leading Thomas to recognize Jesus as his Lord and his God. It is a moment of faith and conversion that shows the power of Christ’s resurrection in changing people’s lives.
This passage reflects on the power of Jesus' resurrection, which transforms our fears into hope, heals our wounds and gives us the inner peace that only He can offer. It also emphasizes the importance of faith, inviting us to believe even without seeing and trusting in the loving presence of the Lord in our lives.
Jesus shows his disciples his hands and his side, the indelible signs of his passion. These signs not only confirm his identity, but are also manifestations of his infinite love. It is through the wounds of the Saviour that we receive healing, it is through his sacrifice that we gain access to eternal life. Despite the tangible proof of his resurrection, one of the disciples, Thomas, still shows uncertainty in the faith. When he can see and touch the risen Lord, he exclaims: "My Lord and my God!" (v. 28). It is a moment of personal revelation and deep conversion, in which Thomas' faith is transformed from doubt to certainty, from uncertainty to adoration.
And Jesus does not stop here. In his great love, to these beatitudes:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit because of them is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who are weeping, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, because they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will find mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called children of God. Blessed are the persecuted for justice, because of them is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you, persecute you and, lying, say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven. So, indeed, they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Mt 5: 3-12).
He adds another one:
"Blessed are those who have not seen and believed".
Faith is not based on sight, but on the acceptance of the word of God. Faith is a choice, an act of total trust in God’s plan even when we cannot fully understand his ways.
That is why Jesus blesses those who believe without having seen, because true faith is to recognize the presence of God even in moments of darkness and doubt, to surrender completely to His will and His love. He invites us to be witnesses of His resurrection, to bring the hope and joy of the Gospel to all those we meet along our path.
Dear brothers and sisters, if in today’s Gospel passage we witness the witness of St Thomas, while in the first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20, we see the continuous work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the nascent Church.
We assist the apostles perform miracles and extraordinary signs in the name of Jesus Christ. They are gathered in the Temple and are teaching the people. Despite the opposition of the religious authorities of the time, the apostles were not intimidated and continued to proclaim the Gospel with courage. In response to their faith and zeal for the truth, God confirms their word with miraculous signs, such as healing and deliverance from evil spirits.
The link with the Gospel of Saint John is evident in the presence of the Holy Spirit as an agent of healing and manifestation of divine power. Just as Jesus showed his disciples his hands and his side to strengthen their faith, the apostles are living witnesses of the power of the risen Christ through the miracles performed in his name.
Both passages emphasize the importance of faith and witness in God’s saving plan. The apostles, like Thomas, are called to believe not only according to what they see with their eyes, but also according to the word of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit among them.
Dear friends, the Fathers of the Church have commented down the centuries on the passage of Saint John. Among the most famous comments are those of Saint Gregory the Great and Saint John Chrysostom.
Saint Gregory the Great, famous for his theological and pastoral writings, emphasizes Jesus' mercy towards Thomas. In his work "Homilies on the Gospels" (Homily 26), he reflected on Jesus' kindness in allowing Thomas to touch his wounds to confirm his faith. This gesture of Jesus becomes a powerful example of divine mercy and sheds light on the relationship between faith and the personal experience of Jesus:
"But Thomas was not present, and when the other disciples told him, he did not believe. And so the Lord, who does not disdain the pure hearts and wants to be known by his own, manifests to Thomas the scars of the nails, the mark of the wound he had had on his side. He shows himself to the unbelieving disciple, and to confirm his faith, invites him to touch with his hand the flesh, which had been pierced by the spear."
On the other hand, John Chrysostom, known for his biblical commentaries and homilies, focuses on Thomas' reaction and Jesus' response to his doubt. In his "Homily 81 on the Gospel of John", John Chrysostom emphasizes the meaning of faith as the foundation of the relationship with Christ. He stresses that faith should be based not only on material evidence, but also on apostolic witness:
"And you, Thomas, have heard these words, and after hearing them you have believed, but those who have not heard them yet believed, have been blessed more than you. But thou hast touched the body of the Lord with thine hands, and believed; therefore, why hast thou not believed from the beginning? In fact, it was better to believe without seeing than to come to believe when you saw."
Together, these two great Fathers of the Church present a complete vision of the Gospel passage, exploring themes such as God’s mercy, faith as the foundation of the relationship with Christ, and the importance of apostolic witness.
Dear brothers, when I reflect on the story of Thomas, a valuable lesson on faith comes to mind. While he needed to see to believe, I have always had an unshakable trust in the presence and providence of Christ. This unshakeable faith has accompanied me on my journey towards the priesthood and continues to sustain me today.
Being called to the priesthood was a moment of profound transformation in my life. It brought me to a new understanding of God’s grace and prompted me to live a life closer to Christ’s teaching. Every day, I try to witness the truth of the Gospel with my service and my life, knowing that only through the grace of God can I hope to be a good shepherd for his people by doing my best and putting all of myself to be a voice of hope and love within the community.
Beloved brothers, tomorrow is the feast of St James the Apostle.
Saint James, along with his brother John, and Peter, shared the Divine Mysteries revealed by Christ. After the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Spain and elsewhere, finally returning to Jerusalem. He boldly taught about Jesus as Savior and denounced the Pharisees using the Scriptures. The Jews, unable to refute his preaching, hired the sorcerer Hermogenes, whose disciple Philip converted to the Christian faith, followed by Hermogenes himself. The unbelievers convinced Herod Agrippa to arrest James, condemning him to death. James accepted the sentence calmly, continuing to bear witness to Christ. One of the false witnesses, Josia, repented and believed in Christ before his execution. James forgave him and together they confessed their faith, being executed in Jerusalem in 44 AD.
Dear friends, as a community of faith, we commit ourselves to walk together under the sign of Christ’s love, witnessing to his grace and truth in every situation. We are guided by the hope and joy of the Gospel, eager to spread the message of love and mercy everywhere.
On our journey of faith, let us pray to the Lord to continue to guide and bless us, making us instruments of his peace and his love in a world in need.
May the life and martyrdom of St James give us the necessary strength and perseverance to bear witness to our faith in Christ. Thanks to his example, together with that of Saint Thomas, we are encouraged to remain firm in our faith, even in the face of the most serious hardships.
May the memory of St James continue to illuminate our journey, offering hope and encouragement to all who seek to follow the teachings of Jesus.
May the Almighty Lord bless you always. Amen
Father Michele Alberto Del Duca.
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