Open with a prayer: Risen Christ, we gather in your name to celebrate your victory over sin, evil and death. As you breathed your spirit on those gathered in the Upper Room, breathe your spirit on us so that we may recognize your presence in our midst and come to know you in the breaking open of your Word. Amen.

Sharing of life: During this Easter season, our Church celebrates the victory of life over death, evil and sin. Name one thing that drains life from you (e.g., fear) and one thing that gives you life and energy.

Facilitator reads focus statement: During the Easter Season, the first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles authored by Luke. Acts, among other things, relates for us the development of the early church. This week's reading tells how the working of signs and wonders led to great numbers joining the church.

During the C cycle of the Easter season, our second reading is from the Book of Revelation. Our gospel this week recounts two post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples. As you will see in your Missalette, the Second Sunday of Easter now has a subtitle, Divine Mercy Sunday. Divine Mercy Sunday -a reference to the Divine Mercy devotion made popular by St. Faustina Kowalska. The devotion celebrates the wonderful Mercy of God for the whole world. Without in any way seeking to diminish the divine mercy devotion, the primary focus of this Sunday remains with our ongoing celebration of the victory of Jesus over sins, evil and death.

Consider reading the commentary after you read each reading.

FIRST READING: Acts 5:12-16

In this reading, the Apostles are preaching the message of Christ in a hostile environment. Notice the observation, "no one dared to join them." But soon people were attracted by the power of the Apostles' ability to heal the sick and cast out demons as a powerful sign that God's Spirit was acting in and through them.

One of the "proofs" of the resurrection is the transformation of fearful disciples into bold proclaimers of Jesus and his message. This is one-way Luke shows that Jesus is alive in his followers. Also, we note that just as Jesus worked "many signs and wonders," his followers, filled with the Spirit of Jesus, are also working "many signs and wonders" - another "proof" of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 118

This is a psalm of thanksgiving to God for his goodness, which endures forever. Especially during this Easter Season, the church gives thanks to God for the salvation earned by Jesus.

SECOND READING: Revelation 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, is writing from the island of Patmos where he is in exile having been banished for his belief in Jesus. He is writing to fellow Christians who are also suffering for their faith. His correspondence seeks to give comfort to his audience.

Sustained by a firm faith in God's power to save and strengthened by the conviction that God would not abandon his followers to the forces of evil, John entrusts his present fears and future hopes to God and invites his readers to do likewise. The basic message of this book is: Evil will not triumph over goodness, neither the evil of Rome nor even the evil of death caused by persecution.

The "seven lamp stands" is a reference not just to seven churches, but also to all Christian churches, seven being the number that symbolizes perfection or totality. Jesus, the "Son of Man", is in their midst. Because of his presence, there is "nothing to fear." Because of his resurrection, Jesus "holds the keys over death." By standing with Jesus, Christians are assured of victory over all adversaries - even death.

GOSPEL: John 20:19-31

This Gospel, especially the first part of it, is often called "John's Pentecost" because in it, Jesus imparts his Holy Spirit to those present. In the first scene, Jesus comes to a group of fear-filled, guilt-ridden and depressed disciples. He stands in their midst and offers them four gifts: peace, joy, the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins. Because they had abandoned Jesus in his hour of need, the Apostles, most likely, felt a great need for "shalom", i.e., God's peace and reconciliation. The joy at seeing Jesus replaced the depression caused by his absence. The gift of the Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles to go forth and preach the Good News, casting aside all fear. The power to forgive sins enabled them to impart to others the saving power of Jesus. In time, this text would be looked upon as the Church's basis for the sacrament of reconciliation. Sins would be "retained" or not forgiven if people were not truly sorry for them or were unwilling to embrace Jesus' teachings.

By sharing with the disciples his wounds ("he showed them his hands and side"), Jesus is showing them that it is really him and not some ghost. Also, he is teaching them that there is no Easter glory without Good Friday pain. Third, Jesus may be saying to us: community is built when the participants learn to share their wounds.

Commenting on the second part of this gospel, scripture scholar, Patricia Sanchez writes:

Thomas is featured; his journey from doubt to faith is offered as an encouragement to all who, at various moments of their lives, struggle with the challenge of believing in Jesus and living accordingly. Moreover, this Thomas narrative helped the early church to come to grips with a challenge that became more pronounced as the authoritative and apostolic witnesses to the risen Jesus died. That challenge? How could someone believe in Jesus-risen without the benefit of an appearance? For a time, those who had not experienced Raised relied on the powerful preaching of those who had. But, as is clear in the interchange between Thomas and the others, hearing eyewitness testimony did not always lead to faith; "I'll never believe," said Thomas. Nor was seeing Jesus a guarantee of faith. Even when he saw Jesus, Thomas still desired the further experience of touch. Faith was born when Thomas responded to the challenge of Jesus: "Believe!" Faith grew when Thomas allowed the Spirit to move him to declare, "My Lord and My God!" Paul's earlier assertion that "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3) is realized in Thomas' profession of faith.

The narrative concludes with a beatitude that reaches out to all future generations of believers; moved by the Spirit and responsive to Jesus' challenge to believe, we too are blest. Blest in our belief, we are also mandated to serve as powerful preachers of the Good News, in all we are, in all we say, in all we do.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse, image or idea spoke to you in the readings? Why?

2. In the early church, one of the "proofs" of the resurrection was how fear-filled disciples became fearless proclaimers of the gospel. What helps you to believe that Jesus is alive today? Has the recent discussion about finding the tomb and body of Jesus and his family rattled your faith in any way?

3. Have you ever had a spiritual crisis - some event that tested your faith? If so, what helped you cope with the crisis?

4. This is also Divine Mercy Sunday. Does this devotion have any meaning in your life? If so, share. If not, have you ever doubted God's mercy?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on today's readings. Suggestions: If you know someone having a faith struggle, reach out to him/her. Pray for all suffering religious persecution.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION

Pray for all having faith struggles and for all who are persecuted for their faith. ©