April 11, 2010
Second Sunday of Easter
John 20:19-31

The gospel for the second Sunday of Easter takes place in the evening on the day of the resurrection. In the morning of that day Mary of Magdala had found the tomb empty and brought Peter to the tomb to see it. Though later that morning Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, Peter and the others had yet to see him. So you can imagine the mixture of feelings the disciples were having trying to figure out what had happened while fearful of the Jewish authorities who had just had Jesus killed. When Jesus appears to them he does not mention their abandonment of him during his passion and death. Instead, his message is twofold. He gives them his peace; and, breathing the Holy Spirit into them, he urges them to offer forgiveness to others. This is how we bear witness to his risen life.

Thomas, who was not there that evening, does not believe they had seen Jesus. Unless he can touch Jesus himself, especially the signs of his passion, he will not believe. A week later Jesus appears to them again. This time Thomas is there. But there is no need for him to touch Jesus. Instead he makes a spontaneous statement of Faith – My Lord and my God.

We cannot see or touch Jesus. We have come to believe without seeing through the power of the gospel. This is why John wrote his gospel, that we might come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that we might have life in his name. We too say “My Lord and my God.” We too witness to the power of the resurrection by rising from sin and being an example to others to do the same.

April 18, 2010
Third Sunday of Easter
John 21:1-19

The gospel clearly seems to end with chapter 20. Yet another chapter follows. It seems to have a twofold purpose. The final verses explain the mission of Peter and the fate of the Beloved Disciple, the supposed author of the gospel. The verses we read today explain the centrality of the risen Jesus to the mission of the Church. To act without Jesus is futile. So Peter, a fisherman by trade, can fish all night and catch nothing. But when Jesus appears and tells them what to do they catch an abundance of fish, 153 to be exact. This number might represent the number of church communities at the time the gospel was written. But it certainly emphasizes the abundance of believers and their unity in the Church that so many can be hauled in in an unbroken net.

The meal Jesus prepares for them certainly has Eucharistic overtones as Jesus gives them bread to eat. The last time he gave them bread to eat he said to them “This is my body.” As he offers them food they recognize it is him.

The passage concludes with an affirmation of Peter’s leadership in the community. Having been fed by Jesus, Peter is then commissioned to feed the rest of Jesus’ flock. Peter’s threefold affirmation of faith in Jesus here echoes his threefold denial during the passion. Then Peter is told by Jesus how he will die and, more importantly, that it is Jesus’ gift of himself to him that will give him the power to face this death. Jesus concludes with the simple command, “Follow me.”

April 25, 2010
Fourth Sunday of Easter
John 10:27-30

The message of this short passage is very straightforward. It makes clear the meaning of the parable of the Good Shepherd. Just as actual sheep come to recognize the voice of the person who shepherds them, so we recognize the voice of our Good Shepherd and follow him.

And the voice we actually hear is God’s voice because Jesus and the Father are One. Sheep follow their shepherd and are led to safe and abundant places to graze. We follow our shepherd and are led to eternal life.

May 2, 2010
Fifth Sunday of Easter
John 13:31-33a, 34-35

Jesus gives us a new commandment – love one another has he has loved us. And his love was so strong he died for us. But it takes on added meaning as it comes in John’s gospel between the prediction of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. In spite of all that, Jesus loves us to the end. Jesus does not just tell us to love but to love in the most difficult situations. There are no excuses for not loving.

At Mt. Sinai the Israelites are given the commandments that seal their covenant and make them God’s people. Jesus gives his followers one commandment. It is in loving one another that people will know that we are disciples of Jesus.