SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER –   2016

• The Church celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus   during 7 days  as if it were Easter Sunday itself.
• And each Sunday of the Easter Season is called FIRST SUNDAY OF EASTER, SECOND….. 
•  
  ¡ALLELUIA,  JESUS, THE LORD IS RISEN!!!!
   
  FIRST READING . Acts of the Apostles 5, 12-16    

As we have said last week, during the liurgical season of Easter the first Reading is taken from the book ofthe Acts.  

Today’s reading describes what the apostles were doing and how the people looked at them:   

• They did wonderful things,  they healed the people. This is what all of us seek, we are vulnerable, limited, and we do not like to suffer.  
• The reading says that they were all together under one of the porticoes of the Temple
• That nobody  wanted to join them,  probably the author means while they were at the temple. 
• Because a little bit further it says that everyday more followers were joining them.  
• People put their sick on the street wishing that at least the shadow of Peter may cover them and so be healed.  
• What a wonderful description of Peter, like his Master and Lord, his shadow does good to people.  
• As it happened when Jesus lived among us, people brought from everywhere their sick ones to be cured, now they do the same with the vicar of Christ, Peter to whom Jesus has given the keys of the  Church.  
   
  RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Ps. 118 2-4; 13-15; 22-24

• We continue the Reading of Psalm 118. 
• It is a thanksgiving hymn to the God of Israel, we sing it in the liturgy to give thanks and praise Jesus victor over death and hell.  
   
  R. Alleluia.
  Let the house of Israel say,
  “His mercy endures forever.”
  Let the house of Aaron say,
  “His mercy endures forever.”
  Let those who fear the LORD say,
  “His mercy endures forever.”
   R. Alleluia.
  I was hard pressed and was falling,
  but the LORD helped me.
  My strength and my courage is the LORD,
  and he has been my savior.
  The joyful shout of victory
  in the tents of the just:
   R. Alleluia.
  The stone which the builders rejected
  has become the cornerstone.
  By the LORD has this been done;
  it is wonderful in our eyes.
  This is the day the LORD has made;
  let us be glad and rejoice in it.
  R. Alleluia.
   SECOND READING  Rv  l,9-11a. 12-13. 17-19

• The book of the Apocalypse is called also Book of Revelation. Revelation of the glorified  Christ, Lord and King of Kings    
• The Gospels are books that tell us about Jesus of Nazareth the Christ, he Messiah during the days of his earthly life among us.  
• The book of Revelation tells us about the risen Lord Jesus, the glorified Christ, who is God, the Second Person of the Trinity.  
• This book does not speak of the future as the seers do, but using symbols and images the author wants to help us understand the meaning of today’s  history. 
• Thus it is called Revelation , which means to lift up the courtain.  Through the different chapters our brother John inspired by God removes Little by Little the courtain so that we may be able to see what is behind it. Thus we may be able to undserstand the meaning of  history.   
• I read once an author who said that this book was written to give hope to the people who suffer.  
• That one of its messages, probably the most important one is that we find God in the events of history, not beyond them. Let us thing a little bit on this sentence and it will probably help us to deepen  faith as Jesus asked Thomas to do “doubt no more, believe”.  
  LET US SEE THE MESSAGE FROM THIS SUNDAY’S READING

1. The author introduces himself as John, our brother, who shares with us the events of life and the persecution because of his fidelity to Jesus.  
2. Because he has chosen to be faithful he is exiled in the isle of Patmos. (see the map at the end of this commentary)   
3. There he has a revelation of the heavenly Christ. Jesus risen and glorified presents himself and speaks to him to give a message for him and for all his brothers.   
4. This happens on a Sunday, the day of the Lord, from the latin   dominum= Lord. I is the first time that this Word is used in the New Testament.   
5. Jesus presents himself as a “son of man” name that Jesus used many times during his earthly life among us.This Word comes from the book of Daniel, where the son of man is someone with  authority. 
6. This son of man dresses priestly vestments, and is among seven golden chandeliers, symbol of trhe Church.   
7. John is terrified on seeing this majestic being, but Jesus touches him and says “do not be afraid.” 
8. And continues saying:  
   • I am the First and the Last   
   • The Living one, I was dead, but now I live forever.  
   • He has the keys of death and life. Paul will tell us that the Father has given him a name above every other name, thus at the name of Jesus every knee shall bend on eatth and under the earth and in the netherworld.   
   • Christ orders John to write what he sees now and in the future.   
      
     
      

  GOSPEL OF JOHN 20:19-31

1. On this second Sunday of Easter the liturgy puts before the eyes of our faith the manifestation of the Risen Lord to the eleven.   
2. Jesus comes in their midst suddenly and all can see him.   
   • He says his usual greeting   “Shalom=Peace”  The Risen Christ is our peace, his presence fills us with an overwhelming joy and we experience a deep peace that nobody can take from us.  
   • Jesus tells them that they have to continue the work he began with the Incarnation, they are called to be his visible presence in the world.  
     • What is that work, that mission?: With the strength of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus they will receive the strength and also the mission to forgive, to bind and unbind with the same authority of Jesus, who will accept what they bind or unbind here on earth.  
   • One of them, Thomas, is not with the others. He left the community, why? Probably because he is disappointed and  sad.  He has left the community when he needed it most, when he needed to share with his friends their sadness, their fear, their disappointment.        
3. Jesus comes back 8 days later, he does not want to leave one his intímate friends without seeing him. 
   • Jesus who continues to love without limits is going to give to Thomas a wonderful gift which will be a gift for us also.   
   • Thomas, look at me, I am Jesus, the one you love, with whom you were ready to go to Jerusalem to die. 
   • Do not allow the temptation of sadness to overcome you, do not go away from the community of your friends, who suffer like you.   
   • Touch my hands, enter into my wounded side that will always be open for you. 
   • You know that now by the power of the resurrection we are brothers, non only friends, or disciple and teacher.  
   • “My Lord and my God.” I love you my Lord, forgive my unbelief, my lack of trust.
     • HAPPY THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING.  Thank you Lord for your words, because we belong to the group of those who struggle day by day   
       • To believe without seeing.   
       • To seek you in the midsts of our darkness.  
       • To allow you love to find us, your love who always forgets and forgives our lack of trust.   
       • WE BELIEVE LORD, BUT HELP OUR UNBELIEF, INCREASE OUR FAITH.