John 20:19-31 - Doubting Thomas (Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2014)

The story of the doubting Thomas is a familiar one.  The following notes may help appreciate the impact of this message to the early Christian communities:

- Among the four gospels, the one by John was the last to be written, estimated to be between 90-110 AD.  Note that the gospels were written for evangelization, and John's was written for Jewish Christians (i.e. those who converted from Judaism), as well as for those who were non-Jews (mainly, Ephesians) who converted to Christianity.  You can imagine therefore that there were some skepticism encountered by the evangelist regarding the Resurrection of Jesus.  The gospel writer was an eyewitness to Jesus' resurrection, but his audience were not.

- Thus, John emphasizes the significance of believing without seeing by juxtaposing the following passages:

John 20:8 - John arrives at the tomb and sees and believes.

John 20:20 - Jesus shows himself to the disciples and they see and believe.

John 20:27 - Jesus shows himself to Thomas, and he sees and believes.

Finally, Jesus says: "Blessed are those who have NOT seen and have believed." (John 20:29)

- Thomas' belief results to his declaration: "My Lord and my God."  The word "lord" is translated from the original Hebrew word "Elohim" which is used to address Yahweh in the Old Testament.  Until then, no one in the gospel of John uses this title for Jesus.  

Of all the titles given to Jesus (Rabbi, Messiah, Prophet, King of Israel, Son of God, etc.), this is the most sublime because it uses the very language by which Israel addressed Yahweh.*

John emphasizes that our faith, yours and mine, are stronger than those of the disciples as we have come to believe through the power of the Spirit and the presence of Jesus through His Church.

Other Trivia: 

- Note that there is no mention in the gospel that Thomas ACTUALLY touched Jesus -- he only saw, and then believed.

Source:

*Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Manila: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), p. 265

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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 nailmarks 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.

Easter Sunday: What Happened In the Resurrection? (April 20, 2014)

There are two hypotheses on why Jesus' tomb was found empty: either Jesus' body was stolen by grave robbers (which were prevalent at that time), or by his disciples.  A trivia in today's Gospel dispels both:

"When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place." (John 20:6-8) 

Grave robbers would not have taken the time to unwrap the burial cloths and roll it neatly.  His disciples, on the other hand, would not have removed the cloths at all.

What happened in the Resurrection?

The Resurrection of Jesus is not just a resuscitation (as in the case of Lazarus, who eventually died), but that of transformation (Jesus lives forever).  

Resurrection refers not only to a physically risen Jesus, but to a spiritually Risen Jesus.

What can we learn from the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection?

Our Risen Lord was no longer bound by time and space. He could walk through walls. In the account of the “doubting Thomas” in John 20:19-29, the evangelist recounts that “the doors were locked” (stated twice, in fact); and yet Jesus suddenly appeared to them.

In the story of the two men on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24:1-53, we learn other aspects about our Risen Lord. We know that the tomb was empty and his body rose and changed (24:12). His body changed because when Jesus appeared to the two men on the road to Emmaus, he was not readily recognizable (24:32), and yet he could be seen and touched, and he ate bread and fish.  We also know that he was recognized when he started to talk about the Scriptures and when they broke bread (24:35), and that this encounter with him brought about much excitement and joy (24:33 and 41).

I’m afraid that is as much as we can know about Jesus Resurrected presence. (The disciples did not have a video camera then, so they could not be any more helpful).  But one thing we do know, Jesus was not just resuscitated; he was transformed to a glorious presence.

The closest analogy I can think of is that of a caterpillar that is transformed to a butterfly. It dies as a caterpillar and transforms to something totally new.

The Resurrection and the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

During the consecration, we believe that the bread and wine changes into the “body and blood” of Christ, but NOT his physical body/blood but to his glorified, resurrected, and spiritually risen body/blood.

Implications of the Resurrection in our Daily Life

We believe that Jesus (in his glorified, Resurrected and spiritual presence) is everywhere. Jesus is present when “two or three are gathered in his name,” when we perform works of mercy, when we preach the Word of God, and most effectively, when we celebrate the Eucharist.

We become intimately united with him when we receive him in communion. Christ is in us. We know we will share in this glorified, Resurrected and spiritual presence one day.

But we need not wait until that day. We live the way we live because Jesus himself is already in us.

How Can We Prove the Resurrection?

Simply, we prove that Jesus is risen and present by making others FEEL that Jesus is risen and present.  For example, imagine yourself encountering a person in abject poverty and preaching to him that Jesus is risen.  Imagine that same person telling you, "Prove it."  You could prove, or disprove, Jesus presence by what you would do next for that person.

Sources:
- Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Patambang, Myra A., Salibay, Esteban T., Jr., and Valera, Felinore Angelica H. Sacraments, Marriage And Family Life. Manila: Navotas Press, 2001

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John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first. He bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple, who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

What Happened on Black Saturday?

The question is a good one. We have almost reduced the major days in Holy Week to two days: Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Holy Saturday is treated like a “break” from all the church liturgy, at least until the Easter Vigil.

So where was Jesus during Black Saturday?  Was he just in the tomb?  In answering this question, let us be careful that we do not treat the death and Resurrection of Jesus in terms of human time and space.  The Resurrection did not occur during a particular time, say, for example, on the midnight of Sunday.  It is also difficult to talk about where exactly Jesus went when he died.

We know that Jesus died and Resurrected. What happened in between is referred to, in our Creed, as Jesus having “descended to the dead.” (Also referred to as “descended to hell” because those who are there are deprived of the vision of God. CCC, 633).

“Descended to the dead” means:

- Jesus, like all human beings, experienced death. He did not just pretend to die!

- Jesus’ act of salvation applies to all, even to those who died before him. Salvation is “not limited by time and space.”*

We are inspired that Jesus resurrected. Equally inspiring is that Jesus actually died. At a moment in human history, there is an event when Jesus (who is God) died -- just like all of us! Isn’t that also astonishing?

But Jesus, the God-human, died for a purpose: to be one with ALL humankind by “joining the others in the realm of the dead.”** 

In doing so, Jesus includes all humankind of all time and of all places in proclaiming the good news: I have come to bring you ALL back to the Father.  To conquer death, Jesus had to actually die -- and then resurrected.

This is the wonderful significance of Holy Saturday. God’s love indeed knows no bounds.

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Sources:

*CFC, 592 and CCC, 634-635
**CCC, 632

CFC is the Catechism for Filipino Catholics and CCC is the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Matthew 21:1-11 - Entrance to Jerusalem (Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014)

Jesus is from Nazareth, which is about 100 kms. from Jerusalem.  That would take about five days' travel by walking.  Even if Jesus was a miracle worker and spoke like the prophets, his message would not have national impact unless it was heard and his miracles performed in Jerusalem, the religious capital.  (Think of a powerful and charismatic leader who preached, say, in Pozorubio; he would have to go to Manila for his message to be heard).

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem riding a donkey, which is regarded as an animal of peace, compared to the horse which is an animal of war.  Palms were placed on his path because it was customary in many lands during Biblical times to cover the path of those regarded with honor.  (Sometimes, one's clothing is also placed on the road).

"Hosanna" means "Help (or save), I pray" and "highest" would refer to God. Thus "Hosanna in the highest" would mean "Help me  O God, I pray."

This gospel passage is about the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where his mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God will reach its climax.  He is welcomed as a savior to proclaim peace, and not as a militaristic messiah.  Jesus' mission and message comes from God.

Source:

- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), 969-970.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday



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Matthew 21-1-11

When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her.

Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them.

The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

John 11:3-17, 20-27, 33-45 - The Raising of Lazarus (5th Sunday of Lent, April 6, 2013)

There are two other gospel accounts where Jesus brought a dead person back to life.  One is when he raised Jairus' daughter (in Mark 5:22-23) and the other is the only son of a widow (in Luke 7:11-16).  The raising of Lazarus, however, is the most powerful and incontrovertible. 

In the first two cases, the persons involved have just died and were not yet buried.  The account in the gospel of John presents Lazarus as having been dead and buried for four days.  People during biblical times usually bury their dead within twenty-four hours as there was no embalming done.  It is also believed that the soul of the person would hover over the dead body during the first three days, after which decay would have set in and the soul would no longer recognize the body and eventually leave.  John establishes that in this particular case, Lazarus definitely has died.

In last Sunday's gospel, Jesus is presented the "light of the world."  Now, he is presented as "life of the world" and presages his own resurrection.  (Jesus resurrection however is different from that of Lazarus's resuscitation.  Lazarus eventually died; Jesus' resurrection is a transformation and glorification of his previous body.  More on this on Easter Sunday).

It is also worthy to note the following:

- Jesus stayed for two more days before heading for Judea where Lazarus was.  This is to suggest that God's timing dictates Jesus' action, and not the human desire or demands.  Something will be done and it will result to God's glorification.

- Why did Jesus weep?  He already knew what he would do and that raising Lazarus would bring joy to the people.  Some biblical interpreters say that to "weep" is also a description of displeasure or anger caused by the skepticism and doubt of the people around him.  Others interpret this as Jesus emotional reaction to the presence of sickness and death, and the grief that it causes human kind.  

Sin is the cause of death and Jesus defeated this last bastion of evil through his life and resurrection.

Sources:

- Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Makati: St. Paul's Publications), 151-156.

- Raymond E. Brown et al (eds), The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1990), 969-970.

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John 11:3-17, 20-27, 33-45.

The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, Jesus remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Jesus became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?”

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.