Homily for 2nd Sunday of Easter, April 12th, 2026

Holy Mother Church has given us this page of John’s gospel (John 20: 19-31) so that we may be among the blessed ones. 

She wants us to be among those who, although they have not seen, have believed, nonetheless. 

She wants us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief we may have Life (with the capital L) in his name. 

Let us not forget that we are assembled in this church because we are looking for Life in the Lord, and not simply for ordinary life that leaves our mind confused, numb and our heart wanting for much more. 

The picture John presents to our consideration is one of semi-paralysis. 

The doors of the upper room are locked securely and the traces of life left are all marred by much fear.  

Does this picture resemble our life?  

What are the fears that affect our sleep, our digestion, our thoughts, our relationships and that keep us from enjoying life?  

The first piece of good news is that even firmly locked doors will not keep our Risen Lord away from us. 

One thing is certain: our Lord cannot endure seeing us frightful, apprehensive, troubled and hurt. 

However, by greeting us with his peace he is already looking beyond the evident sources of our fears. 

We must know that Jesus’ peace is packed with heavenly, restoring power.  

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 

The peace that the Risen Christ offers as soon as he irrupts into our troubled life is the same peace that was present when, in the very beginning, God saw that everything he had created was very good. 

God’s peace is creation enriched by fullness, harmony, order, perfection, and pristine innocence. 

In other words: the peace given us by the Risen Christ is a world without sin! 

Thus, we already begin to realize that as soon as we let Christ Jesus into our frightened and messy life, Life begins to blossom again. 

But how does the Risen Christ accomplish this?  

He does so by breathing his Spirit in us; thus, making us a new creation. 

In the beginning, God breathed his Spirit into Adam who became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) 

St. Paul makes this intriguing connection: “The first man, Adam, became a living being,” [Jesus] the last Adam a life-giving spirit 1 Corinthians 15:45. 

This is precisely what, according to the Father’s plan of salvation, had to occur for us to receive Life. 

The Risen Lord, penetrating the walls of our misery, proves to us that we are meant to pass from a bland human life to his Life; from sadness to joy; from sin to grace; from disorder to peace and harmony; from stifling fear to zeal in carrying out our mission. 

The Spirit that he breathes on his fledging Church empowers some chosen ones to forgive sins, and all of us to realize clearly and unequivocally how sin is responsible for the clouding of our minds, for the restlessness of our hearts and for the insidious resignation that leads us to settle for a substandard way of living rather than the Life which his victory has won for us all and is to be shared by us all. 

By breathing his Holy Spirit in us, the Risen Lord shows that he is consumed by the desire to lift us from the pangs of dejection and prostration to complete joy and abundant Life.   

Given the disquieting situation in which we are living nowadays, we might exercise our discipleship with very modest expectations from our Lord. 

However, the lowering of our expectations whenever the Lord rushes into our lives would amount to a resignation that insults him and exposes our failure to notice his wounds. 

Yes: we must not overlook that the Risen Lord who breathes his Spirit in us shows us his wounds.  

They are now glorified wounds that he will keep for all eternity not only as a reminder of being forever inseparable from us and our wounds, but also as evidence of the awesome healing power of his Spirit. 

The Risen Lord’s wounds, like those still on our bodies and in our hearts, assure us that, even those who are absent for whatever reason, have urgent need for healing. 

Therefore, his desire to heal, to fill every one of his disciples with joy and Life is such that he returns purposely to restore the very same faith in Thomas and in anyone who might have trouble believing; so that all will believe; all will be blessed and all will share in his glory.