I do believe!

The Second Sunday of Easter

Today’s Gospel is from the Gospel of John and is read on the second Sunday of Easter in each of the three Sunday Lectionary cycles (A,B,C) which emphasizes the importance of Jesus’ resurrection appearances to his disciples. Today we are challenged to follow through on what we claim to believe. The whole of John’s Gospel centres on our ‘belief’ in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In fact John 3:16 is a summary of the whole Gospel message; “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Some people may not believe in God but God believes in them.

Unbelief is common in today’s society but it is different from doubt but because we have been given minds with the power to reason we can assess our faith as Christians. We are challenged to respond to Jesus’ call by believing that Jesus is the key to Salvation and this is what Jesus teaches his disciples in today’s reading.

After Jesus’ crucifixion and death the disciples are afraid that they too might be killed, they lock themselves in a room where Jesus miraculously appears to them. Jesus doesn’t come to criticize them as he greets them with the gift of peace and with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also gives them a new identity and mission, he wants them to continue the work he has begun. This continuity with Jesus’ mission is an essential part of the Church, Pope Francis constantly reminds us that we are called to be missionary disciples who share the Gospel with others with humility and with respect. Think about this for a moment and reflect whether you are a missionary disciple. Do I have God’s Spirit within me? Do I allow God’s Spirit to work through me? The Holy Spirit strengthens our faith, if we truly believe.

Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared, so he missed out on meeting the Lord. He struggles to believe what the other disciples tell him, doubting their testimonies. The Lord then appears to Thomas to lead him from unbelief to faith, He tells Thomas to touch his wounds and says “Do not be unbelieving any more but believe.” Thomas replies “My Lord and my God!” We too are called to believe but without seeing, often our faith is tested in times of trouble or sickness. We may even doubt that God loves us, or that he has a plan for our lives and will take care of us. We, like Thomas, need Jesus to lead us from unbelief to belief, we need to let the Gospel message enter and change us. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit which we received at Baptism, we are among those who are blessed for we have not seen and yet we believe. Today is also called Divine Mercy Sunday, to know more about this Feast click on the below. Like St. Faustina declared, “Jesus I trust in you,” through our baptism we are called to trust (believe in) and to hold onto the truth that the risen Christ is alive.   

Divine Mercy SundayDownload

A reading from the Gospel of John (John 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 nail marks 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. 

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel story is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why? 
  3. Thomas believes because he sees Jesus, his move from doubt to faith is transformative.  Is my own faith transformative? Do I always profess Christ as Lord and master?  
  4.  What truths do I need to proclaim in my family life and in my work place or community?               The truth of the Gospel is that God is love and that God loves you. Make this prayer during your day “Lord, I know you love me and that you died for me. Give me deeper knowledge and understanding of your divine Mercy. Amen”
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare;
    i. The Bible reading from St John (20: 19-31)
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a white cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the readings and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  8. Be creative 😊 

In today’s Gospel we hear how Jesus after he rose from the dead appeared to the disciples who were hiding in a locked room because they were afraid. When the disciples saw Jesus they were very happy, Jesus greeted them by saying “Peace be with you.”

  • When we go to Church and celebrate the Mass we are meeting Jesus just like the disciples in today’s Gospel
  • Printout of a church
  • Craft card
  • Glue/scissors
  • Pencil/colours
ActivityDownload

Sunday is the day we should go to church to celebrate Mass with our family. Maybe sometimes you don’t feel like going. Maybe you are tired and want to stay in bed, or you want to watch television or play on the computer or go outside to ride your bike. There are lots of reasons why you should not miss going to Church, can you think of any? At Mass we listen to readings from the Bible, we sing and praise God, we pray for ourselves and for others, we say sorry to God for all the things we have done wrong this week. We meet our friends and members of our parish community, we meet the Priest and our catechist. Do you know what the number one reason for not missing Mass on Sunday is? It is because at Mass we receive something very special from God. We receive the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist. We actually meet with Jesus when we receive Holy Communion (the Body of Christ). If we don’t go to Church on Sunday we will miss out on the same thing that Thomas missed out on in today’s Gospel, and that is the chance to be with Jesus, this is what happened to Thomas. 

One week after Jesus died his disciples were all together in a room with the door locked because they were afraid of being arrested too. Suddenly Jesus appeared before them and said “peace be with you.” When they saw Jesus they were very happy. One of the disciples called Thomas was not with them at the time, so the next time they saw Thomas they told him what had happened. But Thomas did not believe that they had seen Jesus, he said “unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

One week later the disciples were in the room again and this time Thomas was with them and the same thing happened, Jesus appeared again even though the door was locked. Jesus said to Thomas “see my hands, put your fingers here. Put your hand onto my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas fell on his knees and said, “My Lord and my God!”

Before Jesus returned to heaven to be with his Father, he told the disciples something important. He told them that when two or three people are gathered together in my name I will be present also. Each week when we go to Mass on Sunday (or any other day) to praise and worship Jesus we are meeting with Jesus just like the disciples in today’s Gospel. So if we miss going to Mass then we miss out on the same thing that Thomas missed out on. That is, the chance to be with Jesus.  

Let’s celebrate going to Mass on Sunday by printing the Church template. Colour it and cut it out. Cut the door along the top and middle lines, open the door, and fold it back so it will open and close. Then stick the church onto craft card leaving the door open. Finish the Church by drawing people inside the door or lots of smiley faces representing us when we go to Mass.

Do this whilst you listen to this song;  Every Move I Make.

Sign of the cross.

Dear God, help me not to be like Thomas who missed the chance to be with Jesus when he first appeared to the disciples after the resurrection. I know that when I go to Mass and receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist I am meeting Jesus. Help me to welcome Him into my heart. Amen
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. This feast originated when our Lord appeared to St. Faustina, a humble, Polish sister. During these visions, Jesus asked that the Feast of Divine Mercy should be celebrated so that all people will find comfort in the never-ending mercy of God’s love. In the Heroes section you can read all about St. Faustina. 

Last week we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection. Today we hear what happened the first time He appeared to the disciples. They were together in a locked room as they were afraid of being arrested too. Thomas was not with them at the time and he missed out on something special.

  • Jesus is risen and He is the Light of the World
  • We are called to believe in Jesus and bring Jesus’ light to others
  • Candle template
  • Pencil/ colours
Candle template Download

Today is the second Sunday of the Easter Season. Easter is not just celebrated on one day but the season of Easter lasts 50 days until the Feast of Pentecost that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

The Paschal or Easter candle is lit throughout the Easter season as well as at baptisms and funerals, to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus.

 Just like a lit candle brings light in a dark room the light of Jesus is present throughout the entire world. We have not seen the risen Jesus, but because we believe in His resurrection from the dead and that the Holy Spirit lives amongst us then we know that the light of Christ is with us always. 

All of the readings today focus on the risen Jesus and how belief in Him changes lives and brings a spirit of joy and excitement. The first reading describes how the first apostles were no longer afraid and they were able to change people’s lives by healing the sick and casting out demons. How were they able to do this? We read in the Gospel that it was because they had seen the risen Jesus and he breathed on them, giving them the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The Gospel then describes how eight days after His resurrection, Jesus appears a second time to the disciples who are together in a locked room, and this time Thomas is present. Thomas was not with the others the first time Jesus appeared and he did not believe that Jesus had visited them. He insisted that he will never believe that Jesus is risen unless he sees and touches his wounds. Jesus invites Thomas to touch the wounds in his hands and side and immediately Thomas knew it was Jesus and believed in him. We have not seen the risen Lord, yet we believe that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and the Holy Spirit dwells among us. We believe that the light of Christ is present throughout the world and we are called to spread his light to others.

To remind us that Jesus is our guiding light which we should follow at all times, print out the candle template. On the candle write JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Then around the candle write down all the ways in which you could share Jesus’ light with others this week. Remember that you too received the gift of the Holy Spirit at your Baptism and that peace, joy, love, patience and kindness are fruits of this gift. This should help you decide what to write.  You can do this whilst listening to the song: Light of the World.

Sign of the cross.

God of Light, help us to live as believers in the resurrection and not to doubt like Thomas. Help us to follow your guiding light at all times and help us to bring the light of Christ to others. 

In the name of the risen Christ, Jesus our Lord, we pray.

Amen
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. This feast originated when our Lord appeared to St. Faustina, a humble, Polish sister. During these visions, Jesus asked that the Feast of Divine Mercy should be celebrated so that all people will find comfort in the never-ending mercy of God’s love. In the Heroes section you can read all about St. Faustina.

Gospel in symbolsDownload

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.