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Second Sunday of Easter (C)

April 27, 2025

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Rite of Sprinkling

Gloria

Collect

God of everlasting mercy,
who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast
kindle the faith of the people you have made your own,
increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed,
that all may grasp and rightly understand
in what font they have been washed,
by whose Spirit they have been reborn,
by whose Blood they have been redeemed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading Acts 5:12-16

Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And the believers were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. 16 A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:2-4,13-15,22-24

R/. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Second Reading Rev 1:9-11a,12-13,17-19

I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches.” 12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I was dead, but see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. 19 Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this.”

Gospel Acclamation Jn. 20:29

Gospel Jn 20:19-31

It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the authorities. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas, who was called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Catena Nova

Christ had to be patient with Thomas, as he always is. When Thomas said he wouldn’t believe, as when the other disciples too thought they were seeing only a ghost, Jesus showed his patience. It was because of his longing to convince the entire world that he so willingly showed them the marks of the nails and the wound in his side. It was for the sake of all who need such signs as these to support their faith. He wants us to have no possible reason for doubt. So, he even took food though he had not need for it. When anyone accepts what hasn’t been seen and believes on someone else’s word, the faith shown honors not only the one who teaches it but the One the teacher proclaims. Thus, faith in Jesus, who has been proclaimed without being shown, is worthy of great praise. Blessed everyone who believes the message of the Holy Apostles. As the Gospel says, they were eyewitnesses and so became ministers of the word. If you want eternal life, if you long for a dwelling place in heaven, then you must listen to these teachers and then go and help others find faith too. (St. Cyril of Alexandria)

What, dearly beloved, do you notice in all this? Do you believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent then? And that on coming later he heard, that on hearing he doubted, that after doubting he touched Jesus, and after touching him he believed? This did not happen by chance, but by divine providence. Divine compassion brought it about in a wonderful way that when the doubting disciple touched the wounds in his master’s body, he cured the wounds of our unbelief. Thomas’ unbelief was of more advantage to our faith than the faith of the believing disciples, because when he was led back to faith by touching Jesus, our minds were relieved of all doubt and made firm in faith. And so after his Resurrection, Jesus allowed his disciple to doubt. But he did not desert him in his doubt….Thomas touched him and cried aloud: My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, you have believed…. He saw a human being, and he confessed him as God, saying: My Lord and my God. Seeing he believed. He apprehended a mere man, and testified that this was the invisible God. We rejoice greatly at what follows: Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed. Certainly this saying refers to us who keep in our minds one whom we do not see in his body. It refers to us, but only if we follow up our faith with our works. That person truly believes who expresses his belief in his works. (Pope St. Gregory the Great)

Faith is the experience of divine breath... No intellectual argument can awaken faith; what it can do at best is to eliminate obstacles, prejudices and misunderstandings, and thus help establish the state of interior silence necessary for the divine breath. But faith itself is the divine breath whose origin is found neither in logical reasoning, nor in human moral action. The divine and flaming Word shines in the world of the silence of the soul and "moves" it. This movement is living faith -- therefore real and authentic -- and its light is hope or illumination. (Anonymous)

Our Lord has told us how we are to lead the risen life, and he has shown it to us. In his last discourse to the apostles he has told us. In the forty days on earth after his Resurrection he has shown us. It is to be a life of love, love that creates, love that fills up the measure of each life with joy. Love that is light and peace. Love that forgives and heals and sustains, that makes us one. Love that gives life to the world and gives beauty to life. Love that is food and clothing and water for thirst. Love that is bread. It is the love of the Eternal Father for his only Son, given to us, and it is given to us for ourselves and for one another. This love is not something insubstantial, to be lived only in the spirit. Christ chose a human body as the means to give us God’s love. He gave us his body in his babyhood, his childhood, his growing from childhood to boyhood, from boyhood to manhood. He gave it to us in his labors, in the stretch and pull of his muscles, in the sweat on his face, in his beautiful artisan’s hands. He gave it to us in the delight of his senses, in eating and drinking and sleeping, in his fasts and his vigils, in his weariness and in his rest. He gave it to us in his dying on the cross, and in lying dead in the tomb; and when he came back from the tomb, it was not a ghost who came back, it was the same Christ with the same body, risen and glorified. (Caryll Houselander)

We too often forget that faith is a matter of questioning and struggle before it becomes one of certitude and peace. You have to doubt and reject everything else in order to believe firmly in Christ, and after you have begun to believe, your faith itself must be tested and purified. (Thomas Merton)

Where is my faith? – even deep down, right in, there is nothing but emptiness and darkness. – My God – how painful is this unknown pain. It pains without ceasing. – I have no faith. – I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd in my heart - and make me suffer untold agony. So many unanswered questions live within me – I am afraid to uncover them – because of the blasphemy – If there be God, - please forgive me. (St. Teresa of Calcutta)

The Church must discover the power of silence. Confronted with the sorrows, doubts and uncertainties of people she cannot pretend to give easy solutions. In Jesus, silence becomes the way of attentive listening, compassion and prayer. It is the way to truth. (Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle)

Homily

I feel sorry for Thomas — forever known as “Doubting Thomas.” So for a change I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, who can blame him for wanting to make sure it was the real thing the others claimed to see -- not some ghost, or hallucination, or just plain wishful thinking? Who can blame him for wanting to poke around and make sure this was indeed the same Jesus pierced with nails ten days before. Yes, I’d like to give Thomas a little credit for wanting some proof. Because down through the ages all kinds of people claimed to be in possession of the “real thing” when it comes to religion. While other people said, “Show me” -- people who probed those who made unbelievable claims like, We have seen the Lord (G).

Like the seer of the Book of Revelation who claimed, I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, ‘Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches. That took a lot of probing, though the church finally accepted the truth of John’s visions. The doubting Thomases were wrong -- no doubt about it. But let’s be grateful for those who poked. We needed signs of genuine inspiration — and still do — as Revelation is the most abused book of the Bible. By people who think it's a playbook for current events leading to the Second Coming, people who design political ploys to advance their "agenda" — like the new ambassador to Israel who expects Armageddon just as soon as the Jews convert to Christianity with everyone else "left behind." After all, it's "in the Bible." (Cf. Fares Abraham, "Palestinian Pastor: Huckabee Shows the Danger of Mixing Theology and Politics," Newsweek, April 11, 2025; https://www.newsweek.com/palestinian-pastor-huckabee-shows-danger-mixing-theology-politics-opinion-2058253).

Now the Catholic Church doesn't usually fall for such fantasies, yet is facing many a discernment issue of its own. Many in the church claim they’ve got it right, that their vision is the correct one, that they’re bearers of the true faith, loyal Catholics whose view should be heeded, over and against others whom they believe are false prophets or wolves in sheep’s clothing. And the real conclave — not Hollywood's fantasy — will play out against this struggle with doubting Thomases on every side. I for one hope the shadow of Peter's last successor might fall on more than one or another of the cardinals. (cf. I).

But before we resolve any such doubts, the long history of disputes in the church shows how much probing needs to be done. And yes, we need a Thomas or two to look for the evidence, for the unmistakable signs of the real thing, and not just some ghost of Catholicism past — or even future — which should either stay buried in the past or one we await that has not yet appeared: so we can have confidence we are truly hearing from the first and the last, and the living one. [Who] was dead, but see, [is] alive forever and ever (cf. II).

Something like this happened to me regarding the secondary name given to this Second Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday. Its origins lie in private revelations to a Polish nun, St. Faustina Kowalska, who died in 1938 and which are recorded in her Diary. I confess for a long time I had doubts about the whole thing, due partly to my instinctive doubts about private revelations, and partly because I found the language of the Diary rather off-putting.

But I wasn't alone. St Faustina herself had doubts. She writes how, "One day I felt driven to take steps to see to it that the Feast of Mercy be instituted…and I could find no peace. Something was pervading my whole being, and yet I feared being deluded." Her spiritual director, Bl. Michel Sopocko, shared the doubts. His reservations concerned Faustina herself. He once remarked, “I was amazed that she, a simple nun, with hardly any education, and without the time to read ascetic works, could speak so knowledgeably of theological matters.” Priests, by the way, are prone to such judgments. But I remember my own astonishment when I finally did read the Diary — some things read like a virtual treatise of spiritual theology. Of course, someone else, given his background as a carpenter, astonished his neighbors, causing them to remark, Where did this man get all this? (Mk. 6:2b).

Mind you, I don’t regret my doubts and I'm grateful for the long process of discernment spearheaded by Pope John Paul II that allayed them leading to Faustina's canonization, wide reading of her Diary, renewed devotion to the God of everlasting mercy (Collect) and yes, today's feast.

I'm glad, in other words, my doubts were finally given the benefit — as might your own — everything from God's mercy, to Christ's resurrection, to the Mystery we celebrate in this sacrament, to doubts about the future of a church, a country, and a world in crisis, together with the personal crises of faith you may be facing. And if you need to poke and probe, that's fine. Nothing wrong with that. And I won’t call you a Doubting Thomas – nor should anyone else.

Intercessions (cf. Joe Milner; The Sunday Website))

In thanksgiving for the apostolic ministry of Pope Francis, for his entry into the eternal life of the Risen Christ, and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the selection of the Successor of Peter.

For the Church: that we may be transformed through our encounters with the living Christ and be instruments of healing and forgiveness for those who are hurting.

For a deepening of faith: that we may grow in our awareness that death has been overcome and that in Christ we shall live forever.

For all the newly baptized: that they may continue to grow in the Christian life and be patient with themselves as they begin this new part of their faith journey.

For abiding peace: that we may know Christ’s presence with us all along life’s journey and be sustained by the peace that Christ offers and that no one can take away.

For the gift of the Spirit upon the world: that God will breathe the Spirit upon the chaos of our society and its financial and political structures so that the dignity of each person may blossom.

For a renewed stewardship of God's creation: that God will guide us to effectively care for creation and preserve its beauty and resources for coming generations.

For all who are suffering: that God will heal the sick, comfort the grieving, guide refugees to safety, and open resources to those who lack food and medicine especially in Gaza, Congo, and Sudan.

For peace in all the troubled areas of the world, particularly in Ukraine: that Christ's victory over death may bring an end to war, genocide, and inhumane treatment of people and help us to work together to end disease and malnutrition.

God of life, source of all faith, through the waters of baptism you have raised us up in Jesus and given us life that endures. Day by day refine our faith, that we who have not seen the Christ may truly confess him as our Lord and God and share the blessedness of those who believe. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Hymn

Blessed Thomas, doubt no longer, See the wounds in hand and side, Now behold the risen Saviour Who for thee has bled and died, And from death’s dark pit arising Lives in body glorified.

Here behold the love victorious, Over death triumphant now, See the feet where nails were driven, And thy faith in him avow: For he lives, the world’s redeemer, Unto whom all knees shall bow.

Thomas looked upon the Master: Was it then indeed the Lord? Were those wounds no phantom tokens? Did the sight with truth accord? Scarce believing, joy unbounded, Leapt to greet the Saviour’s word.

Prostrate falling, Thomas worshipped: ‘O my Master, Lord and God’, Here in truth was Christ the Saviour Who the path of suffering trod, And, to ransom souls unnumbered, Broke in pieces Satan’s rod.

Thomas, sight has now convinced thee, Faith within thy heart has stirred; Blessed more those faithful servants, Trusting in the Saviour’s word, Who, though vision is denied them, Still believe, and own him Lord.

Grant, O Father, that among them We thy servants may be known, And the ground be ever fruitful Where the seed of faith was sown, Till at length in heaven’s glory, Faith and vision are but one.

Communion Antiphon

Closing Hymn (Jean Tisserand)

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O sons and daughters, let us sing! The King of heaven, the glorious King, over death today rose triumphing. Alleluia!

That Easter morn, at break of day, the faithful women went their way to seek the tomb where Jesus lay. Alleluia!

An angel clad in white they see, who sat, and spake unto the three, "Your Lord doth go to Galilee." Alleluia!

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