The Second Sunday of Easter - April 27, 2025 (Year C)

In the first reading, we here of the miracles that Peter had performed in the time following Jesus's Resurrection.  As the truth spread, more and more people sought out those apostles, with Peter chief among them.  While we hear that all were cleansed and cured of their maladies, physically and spiritually, you can almost here the Psalm reverberating throughout the Temple as they gathered there, rejoicing in their newfound health, that the Lord's love is good and everlasting.  And it is interesting to note that this Psalm is also the one in which the rejected stone which becomes the cornerstone is first mentioned, and we are given a story where that new Church on that cornerstone is healing the masses at the Temple, the structure that has been so important to the Jewish tradition for generations.

I must admit before continuing on that with the passage from Revelation in the Second Reading, I am out of my depths.  While I know some of the symbolism that is referenced throughout Revelation, I am by no means qualified to go delve into all of the mysteries that this work provides.  However, with that out of the way, I shall venture on into the reading.  We hear the initial prompt to the writing of the Revelation, and Jesus, the Son of Man who appears to John, explains clearly though He was once dead, He now loves forever and holds "the keys to death and the netherworld".  This is an idea that, though immense in its implications, is simple to access: we must be follow God's Word, the Living Word, that of Jesus.  We allow ourselves to fall at His feet as John did, and follow God in the way that best allows us to be vessels of His Love, received from God and shared to those around us.

And finally in the Gospel, carrying over from the confusion and the jubilation from last week's Easter Gospel Reading, we get to hear one of the amazing passages in the Bible, as Jesus reveals His Risen Self to the apostles.  And, almost in contrast to the glory of Jesus's revelation, we see the doubt of Thomas, as he is not initially present.  With hindsight, it is easy for us to question why he would doubt, given everything that he has been witness to.  And yet, putting myself in the shoes of Thomas, I realize that he is a human, just like me.  I have doubts, fears, worries, and in moments of grief and despair, I ignore those closest to me and try to latch on to reality only as I see it.  We are lucky to have this perspective of Thomas, for we can relate to him and his doubts.  And yet, we must also allow ourselves to be brought into the full Glory of Jesus as Thomas was.

Disclaimer: This will be at the bottom of all reflections, but I’m not intending to put out any sort of professional critique, attempt at a homily, or investigation into the historicity of the readings, but will “let the Spirit move me” as some say, to share what has spoken to me in my reading and reflection on the set of Readings for each week.