The Signs of Christ’s Love

Listening to the Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Listening to the Word

Jn 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Reflection

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the National Shrine of Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Batangas. At the main entrance of the church, which resembles a large tent, there is a first-class relic of the saint—one of his gloves, carefully preserved inside a thick glass case. This relic was donated in 2015 by the friars of San Giovanni Rotondo, where his body is kept, on the occasion of the shrine’s elevation from diocesan to national status.

Padre Pio received the gift of the stigmata at a young age, sharing in the suffering of our Lord while most importantly reminding us of the love of the Resurrected One for his disciples and all people. “…He showed them his hands and his side.” The resurrection did not erase the marks of the nails—Jesus showed his hands and side to his disciples so they could recognize him and, more importantly, understand the depth of his love. The Resurrected One carries his identity with him; those wounds remain a sign that God’s love for us endures.

“Peace Be with You”

What a beautiful greeting. We seek peace—we desire it in our hearts, within our families, in our Christian community, and in our society. The whole world is crying out for peace, especially in places where hatred, arrogance, violence, indifference, and conflict overshadow dialogue, understanding, forgiveness, care, and mercy.

We long to be men and women of peace, following the example of our Lord, who never hurt anyone. On the contrary, he cared for all—the sick, the imprisoned, the sinners, even those who did evil. He offered and continues to offer himself to break the cycle of violence that plagues our world. Let us be instrument of His peace.

“As the Father Has Sent Me, So I Send You”

"As the Father has sent me." The importance is on the adverb “As”. This word signifies that God is within the Son—they know each other deeply. Throughout his life, Jesus sought to be in the Father, to be one with Him. Likewise, our calling is to remain in Jesus as he remains in us. Only from this intimate connection can we go forth and proclaim Him, for we have personally encountered Him. When do we experience this closeness? In the Eucharist, in prayer, and in moments of personal intimacy with Him. This intimacy, this love with the Lord is the push to bring the Good News to all.