First reading Acts 4:32-35
The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul
The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.
The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.
None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need.
Responsorial Psalm 117(118):2-4,15-18,22-24
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’
Let the sons of Aaron say:
‘His love has no end.’
Let those who fear the Lord say:
‘His love has no end.’
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,
but not doomed to die.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.
Second reading 1 John 5:1-6
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has already overcome the world
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
has been begotten by God;
and whoever loves the Father that begot him
loves the child whom he begets.
We can be sure that we love God’s children
if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us;
this is what loving God is –
keeping his commandments;
and his commandments are not difficult,
because anyone who has been begotten by God
has already overcome the world;
this is the victory over the world –
our faith.
Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God:
Jesus Christ who came by water and blood,
not with water only,
but with water and blood;
with the Spirit as another witness –
since the Spirit is the truth.
Gospel Acclamation Jn 20:29
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said: ‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
Alleluia!
Gospel John 20:19-31
Eight days later, Jesus came again and stood among them
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:
‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
Reflection
In the First Reading, Luke describes the wonderful sense of sharing that characterised the early Christian community in Jerusalem as they obeyed Jesus’ command to love one another with his love.
The followers of Jesus in the early community freely and joyfully pooled their resources. This is the aim of the wonderful sharing of talents, time and hospitality, which, thank God, is so obvious among us.
The Gospel is about forgiveness and about recognising the presence of the risen Jesus in our midst.
Immediately he goes on to speak of forgiveness, for we are not innocent, and unless those we have hurt forgive us we find it hard to be at peace. We can keep people in a bind by refusing to forgive them. Jesus tells us that when we forgive, God forgives.
His forgiveness was an assurance that the sinner had repented and could be welcomed back to communion.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that most sins are forgiven in a less formal way as we apologise to those we have hurt and they forgive us. Jesus assures us that when we forgive he forgives.
The Gospel goes on to speak of Thomas – a symbol of hope for us all who, like Thomas, were not there to experience Jesus on the first Easter day. Like Thomas we recognise that we cannot forever rely on the faith of others.
Besides, Thomas did well to doubt the excitement of his brothers and sister disciples – for he knew Jesus, and he knew that if Jesus were truly risen he would not get a message to Thomas second-hand, but would come to him personally, as a friend would.
Fr Michael Fallon msc
