The Gospel this Sunday tells us about the appearance of Jesus to His disciples. Earlier, Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene, Simon, Cleophas of Emmaus and companion (his wife? See John 19:25) on separate occasions. This time, He appeared to His disciples who were behind locked doors. They were afraid of the Jewish authorities who could do them harm as they did on Jesus.

          Read this Gospel to your family (John 20:19-31). Prepare them to be with Jesus on this most exciting moment when He appeared to the disciples behind locked doors. Sit them comfortably and give them first some breathing exercises to relax them.

          After reading the Gospel to your family, it will be good to relate the Gospel again in your own words. As you relate these events, pause for brief moments to allow the family to feel the joy and excitement of the occasion:

• When the disciples saw Jesus standing among them: they were like scattered and lost sheep who were found by their Shepherd. Since they have abandoned Jesus during His passion, their feelings at this time were like that of the Prodigal Son as he was embraced and kissed by his father (Luke 15:20). Jesus, like the father of the prodigal son, did not wait for an explanation for their having abandoned Him.
• As Jesus said to them "Peace be with you": feel their fear of the Jewish authorities banished in them.
• When Jesus said "As the Father has sent me, so I send you": feel their excitement of being sent on a mission to proclaim the kingdom.
• As He breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven": feel the grace, the strength and confidence that the Holy Spirit pours into them to go and make disciples as Jesus had shown them. (Their effort to follow Jesus will spawn the Church and they would be its ordained ministers.)
• Receiving the assurance of Jesus: "Happy are those who believe without seeing me." Most of the people whom they would approach would have never seen Jesus.

          Recall your feelings inside that room with the disciples as Jesus appeared. Respond to Jesus as He tells you, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

          To whom is Jesus sending you?

          Share your response to Jesus with the family.

Joe & Charito

THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MANILA'S
ONLINE RESOURCE FOR FAMILY MINISTRIES
www.simbahayan.org
servants@simbahayan.org