If there is a unifying theme in this Sunday's scripture readings, it may well be faith.
The gospel selection is always central, and this week we hear John 20:19-31, most of which is an account of two appearance of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection. On the occasion of the first appearance, Thomas is absent and he says he won't believe that Jesus has risen and appeared to the others unless he also sees Jesus and can touch his wounds. A week later, Jesus appears again and shows Thomas his wounds and calls on him to believe. Thomas responds by saying, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus answers, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe," — which includes all believers since the time of the apostles. The passage concludes with a statement that Jesus did much more that what is written in the gospel, but the things included are to enable us to "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name."
The exclamation of Thomas is significant. There are those who try to say that the divinity of Jesus was a doctrine invented long after the time of Jesus, but here it is explicitly stated in a First Century writing based on the account of an eyewitness to the life of Jesus. So the Gospel of John invites us to share the belief of the early Christians that Jesus is Lord and God. This is not a matter of merely theoretical interest to theologians. We are told that through this belief we have life — not physical life, but spiritual life, which is elsewhere promised to be eternal— in Jesus' name.
The second reading for this Sunday, from the First Epistle of John (1 John 5:1-6), tells us that our faith has consequences for our lives. One thing is that our faith is "the victory that conquers the world." In other words, "the victor over the world [is] the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."In this context, "the world" isn't to be understood as the planet earth or its people, but those elements which oppose our salvation. It is similar to what Paul says in Romans 8:37-39, that "[nothing] in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." We may be able to throw away our salvation, but there is nothing and nobody who is capable of taking it from us.
Beyond that, there is a very practical consequence — those who believe in Jesus are begotten by God, children of God, and those who love God the Father will love all the rest of those who are begotten by God: those who are also his children. This love means keeping God's commandments. In other words morality is the result of love of God and his children. This is also what Jesus teaches when he says that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-40) So it will not do for us to say, "I believe in Jesus," while failing to love one another or to behave morally. If our faith is genuine, it will have results in our behavior. It is our faith that enables us to resist temptation.
The first reading — Acts 4:32-35 — gives us an example of how believers practiced this mutual love in Jerusalem in the early days of Christianity. They did not regard themselves as owning anything for themselves. They sold lands and houses and gave the proceeds to the apostles to distribute to those who were needy. We don't necessarily give up all our property, but at the very least, we should realize that we have some obligation to provide for those who are in need, and that we shouldn't make getting more money or property our aim.
Other points we should note are those of mission and mercy. Both are seen in the first part of the gospel reading.
When Jesus makes his first appearance he tells them, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." This is comparable to the words given in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." In John 18:37 Jesus tells Pilate, "I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth." This truth is not theoretical. It has to do with faith and all its implications. It therefore also has to do with love. And it has to do with mercy.
Pope St. John Paul II designated this Sunday as Divine Mercy Sunday, a title derived from the writings of Sr. Faustina Kowalska in the 1930's. Pope Francis, for his part, is also emphasizing God's mercy — which has been one of his regular themes — by designating next year as a year for focusing on the theme of God's mercy. We see God's mercy in action when Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (John 20:22-23) Part of the mission of the Church, then, is to be a vehicle of God's mercy by exercising this power to forgive sins. And we as individuals should be merciful to others.
Summary. We are invited to share the faith of Thomas and the other apostles, through their testimony preserved by the Church, which Jesus has sent to carry on his work. This faith calls us to love one another in action, living by Christ's teachings, and brings us eternal life. God is merciful.
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