Please read the passage noted before the commentary.
It is the octave day of Easter today, the eighth day of the Easter celebration. In our reading from Scripture, we are on the same day as Easter, but in the evening of that day.
In the midst of the disciples who were filled with fear, Jesus mysteriously appeared to fill them with peace. He bestowed on them the Holy Spirit and sent them out with absolute power over sins.
Thomas was not with them. If you were Thomas, how would you have responded to the news of the resurrection of Jesus? Would you have been joyful? Suspicious? Doubting? What questions would you have? How would you have heard about the wound in Jesus’ side since heard not been there?
It is now a week later. The Pope has died, but our lives are returning to normal. We are again gathered in the upper room. Again, the doors are locked. Again, Jesus mysteriously comes in. Again, Jesus sees us. He invites us to examine more closely his hands and side. How do we respond?
It is said that the doors were locked, but that Jesus came in anyway. It is not said that someone opened the door for him or that he came in miraculously. We can safely say that Jesus came in mysteriously. It is certain that Jesus, who could open the doors of death to let in light, can just as easily have opened other locked doors. I wonder what doors we would like Jesus to open for us.
Now, it is April 26 in the year 2025. Jesus has done many other things not written in this book. How has this experience of Jesus changed how you believe in Jesus?