Our Easter faith and the divine mercy

breathed on them and shared with them his Holy Spirit, fulfilling the prophecies of Ezekiel (36:27) and of Joel (3:1). By the paschal mystery of His death and resurrection, Jesus has accomplished the end-time projection of a world once deprived of God’s Spirit now energized anew by the “Dunamis” (Power) of the Most High. The power is for the mission of the disciples to liberate the world in Jesus’ name from sin and darkness into the freedom of God’s children. “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.” Serenely and solemnly the old curse was declared ended and the new blessedness in God’s mercy, in peace and forgiveness, made available to all by his followers’ mandated continuation of his work of salvation.

The mission demands the faith of the witnesses. A week later the second appearance of the risen Jesus focused on the man who was absent earlier and who set as His requirement “seeing” Jesus and his wounds, otherwise he said, “I will not believe.” Thomas is not here presented as a skeptic who believes only provided there are proofs. It was the initiative of Jesus to show the disciples His hands and side; He offered the same signs to Thomas. They all needed and received the same proofs. They all had to pass from doubt and incomprehension to belief. The story of Thomas represents the needed transition between two generations of believers, from the “chosen witnesses” (Acts 10:41) who saw the risen Lord to the later faithful throughout the world who receive the faith that comes from the apostles.

Alálaongbagá,theexhortationto us here and now is “Do not be unbelieving, but believe.” It is not enough to see for anyone to believe. As the disciples themselves went beyond their experience to attain to Easter faith, we also believe even if we have not seen Jesus. Transcending all proofs and witnesses, we say with Thomas every Sunday, the Day of the Risen Lord, “My Lord and my God!” as we personallyacknowledgejesuspresent in the signs of bread and wine in the Eucharist, as He brings us peace in the Holy Spirit and also sends us on a mission of love and mercy to all people.

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.