On this Second Sunday of Easter, our Gospel reading begins on the night of Easter (“the evening of the first day of the week”). Jesus has walked through locked doors into the room where the disciples had gathered in fear of their own death by the Jews. The Gospel writer wants to tell us of the Good News that Christ has now conquered death. Christ has risen. He has walked right through the doors of death. He has thus unlocked the fear of death. He gives His sign of peace and the disciples rejoice. Perhaps, they are now beginning to understand what Jesus had been telling them for the last three years. Then Jesus breathes the life of the Holy Spirit into each of the disciples. Just as Adam’s life came from God, who breathed life into him, so now the disciples’ new spiritual life comes from Jesus. Yet not all the disciples believe. Thomas, who had been absent, declined to believe what the disciples told him. He must see with his own eyes. Who could blame him? A week later, Jesus again appears and invites Thomas to see His wounds. It is here that we hear the words from Thomas that have echoed throughout the history of Christianity: “My Lord and My God!” So, what are we to make of this reading for our own spiritual reflection? The dominant theme in this reading is the boundless mercy of Jesus. He understands Thomas’s struggle to believe. Jesus was patient. He never gave up on the doubting Thomas. He returned the second time to bring Thomas to belief. Jesus will do the same for us. While He may not come bodily to show us His wounds, He does wait patiently for our response too. He calls us, like Thomas, to bring our doubts to Him when our faith waivers. And when we turn back to Him, His mercy and love awaits us. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Reflection by parishioner, Dale Gerber