• "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 ..."
  The disciples were hiding from the Jews for fear that they might also be crucified as their Leader. This was the first time they saw Jesus after He had risen. To be able to pass through locked doors, Jesus must have been in another state, no longer in His human physical state. Was this why Mary of Magdala failed to recognize Him? (John 20:14)
• " … and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ "
  Jesus knew the disciples’ troubled hearts and confused mind. This was His way of calming His Flock. He would always tell them not to be afraid.
• "When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ..."
  From this time on, a disciple of Jesus would see the Lord in the marks of sufferings of man. This symbolism was not lost to them and did not escape them.
• "Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ ..."
  This was how John interpreted the commissioning of the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (last Sunday’s Gospel according to Matthew). Their authority to go on mission came from the Father.
• "And when he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ "
  The disciple knew that the time for them to go had arrived as they have received the promised Holy Spirit who would guide them to all truth (John 16: 4-15).
• "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
  Jesus instituted the sacrament of reconciliation for the Church that the disciples would establish in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20).

Meditation ~

Contemplation ~

Joe & Charito

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