By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Acts 2:42-47; Responsorial: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9; Gospel: John 20:19-31
Here the Acts of the Apostles describe the common life of the first Christian community. They were devoted “to the breaking of bread,” which they conducted “in their homes” (vv. 42, 46). The community was “every day … meeting together in the temple area.” They continued participating in Jewish prayers at the Temple, where the apostles were teaching and also performing wonders and signs by the power of God. For example, in Acts 3:1-10, Peter and John heal a crippled man in the temple area, where they “were going … for the three o’clock hour of prayer.”
While the Christian community met in the temple area “every day,” the Lord was also adding to their number “every day … those who were being saved.” “They devoted themselves” (repeated: vv. 42, 46) to the apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread, to gathering as a community in prayer.
“All who believed had all things in common” (v. 44). Further, “they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need.” This is described also in Acts 4:32-27. Because of this sharing of property, “there was no needy person among them” (4:34). There is also the sad story of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11). They received the judgment of death after they sold a piece of property because they pretended to donate all the proceeds, but deceitfully kept part of the money.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 118) repeatedly uses the famous Hebrew word “hesed” — which appears in many psalms. “Hesed” is sometimes translated as “love” — “his love is everlasting” (part of today’s refrain). Other times “hesed” is translated as “mercy” — “his mercy endures forever” (repeated in today’s first verse). “Hesed” describes God’s faithful love for his people — with whom God has formed a covenant relationship. St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translated “hesed” as “mercy” (Latin: misericordia). Jerome was following the example of the older Greek Septuagint which had likewise translated “hesed” as “mercy” (Greek: eleos). Psalm 118 repeatedly emphasizes that God is eternally faithful to his covenant promises to his people. Thus we can trust that God will help us in our distress, for he is our savior.
In the second stanza, the psalmist recalls: “I was hard pressed and was falling, but the LORD helped me.” The psalmist’s praise of God’s mercy is motivated by thanksgiving because God saved him from danger. The third stanza says: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This image dramatizes how God lifts up the lowly to a place of honor.
Next, 1 Peter, says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This phrase praises God for giving us Jesus as our savior, an act of God’s “great mercy.” Through Christ, God “gave us a new birth.” This is followed by two parallel “into” (Greek: eis) phrases. First, we have new birth “into a living hope.” Second, we have new birth “into an inheritance.” Our “living hope” comes from Christ’s resurrection “from the dead.” Our inheritance is described as “imperishable, undefiled and unfading.” That is, our inheritance is “kept in heaven” — where nothing “undefiled” enters, and where life never perishes or fades.
The letter invokes Jesus’ promise of “a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.” This is a cause for rejoicing and perseverance, although “you may have to suffer through various trials.” Christ’s disciples receive his promise of salvation by enduring suffering, as Christ endured suffering. The letter emphasizes that the reader’s faith is “more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire.” That is, tested by suffering.
Finally, Peter’s letter encourages the readers to deepen their faith in Christ. Although the believer does not see Christ, “you love him” and you “believe in him.” The believer rejoices in what he cannot see, because his faith assures him of the truth of Christ’s promise — “the salvation of your souls.”
Today’s gospel recounts Jesus’ repeated appearances to his disciples after his resurrection. In his first appearance, Jesus twice says to them: “Peace be with you.” Jesus calms the disciples’ fears and anxieties. Note that “the doors were locked” where they were meeting. The second time Jesus says, “Peace be with you,” he adds: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit.” This is accompanied by Jesus breathing on his disciples, and by his promise that if his disciples forgive sins, then they are truly forgiven.
The second half of today’s gospel focuses on Thomas as an example of slowness in belief in Christ’s resurrection. Since Thomas was absent during Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples, he refuses to accept the testimony of his fellow disciples, who say “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas questions the credibility of their claim that Jesus is risen from the dead with his insistence of seeing and touching Jesus’ wounds of crucifixion.
Fortunately, Thomas is present when Jesus appears a second time to his disciples. Note that both of Jesus’ appearances are on the “first day of the week” – that is, the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Again the disciples have locked the doors because of their fears, and again Jesus’ calms their fears by saying: “Peace be with you.”
Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds of crucifixion, and then Jesus says: “do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas responds with words of belief: “My Lord and my God!” The gospel does not indicate that Thomas actually touched Jesus’ wounds, although Jesus offered him this. Jesus’ encounter with Thomas ends with Jesus’ words: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” These words speak to our situation as Jesus’ followers who have not personally witnessed his bodily resurrection. But we have received testimony of the truth of his resurrection. The gospel emphasizes that Jesus’ signs “are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”