EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL
Appearance to the Disciples, Thomas, and Conclusion
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.
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
St. Irenaeus (Feast Day June 28)
d. 202
St. Irenaeus was the Bishop of Lyon in the region of Gaul (present day France). He, much like Thomas the Apostle in today’s Gospel, was a seeker of truth. He is known for laying the foundations of Christian theology and exposing and refuting the errors of the Gnostics. The Gnostics claimed access to secret knowledge imparted by Jesus to only a few disciples. Their teaching was attractive and confusing to many Christians. It was the spread of Gnosticism in Gaul, and the ravages it was making among the Christians of his diocese, that inspired Irenaeus to undertake the task of exposing its errors. He produced a treatise in five books in which he set forth fully the inner doctrines of the various Gnostic sects, and afterwards contrasted them with the teaching of the Apostles and the text of Sacred Scripture. His work gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics. St. Irenaeus suffered martyrdom in Lyons, with many others, in the year 202, under the Emperor Septimus Severus, after eighty years spent in the service of the Lord.
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
· Sometimes, people call the apostle Thomas, “Doubting Thomas.” Why do you think he got that nickname?
· What would it be like to see Jesus alive, after he died on the cross?
· Why do you think it’s hard for some people today to believe in Jesus?
· During his life, St. Irenaeus exposed false teachings about Jesus. Do you think there are any false teachings about Jesus today? Why or why not?
FAMILY FUN
Build a Fort
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples gathered in the Upper Room. Create a gathering space of your own by building a fort at home. You can build it with blankets, pillows, cardboard boxes, etc. Hang out and play games, tell stories, or imagine what it was like for the disciples in the Gospel today.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Irresistible Coconut Custard Pie
Once Thomas encountered the risen Christ, the truth of the Gospel was irresistible! Celebrate the risen Christ with this irresistible pie!
2 cups whole milk
¾ cup sugar
½ cup flour
4 eggs
4 Tbsp. butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
1 ¼ cup coconut
Put all ingredients in mixer and blend for one minute. Add 1 ¼ cup coconut. Place in a buttered and floured deep pie dish. Bake 360 for 45-50 minutes until slightly golden browned around edges.
FAMILY PRAYER
Chaplet of Divine Mercy
St. John Paul II declared the Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday in 2000 when St. Faustina Kowalska, to whom Jesus revealed the Divine Mercy image, was beatified. Jesus told Sr. Faustina, "Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy." This day is a chance to reflect on the mercy of God in our lives. Many people pray The Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:00pm every day. You are encouraged to pray it today, on the feast of Divine Mercy. Here is how you pray the chaplet:
Sign of the Cross
Our Father
Hail Mary
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
On the Our Father beads:
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the Hail Mary Beads:
For the sake of his sorrowful Passion, have his mercy on us and on the whole world.
After five decades, conclude by reciting three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
LITURGY LINK
What do we say after the priest says, “Let us offer each other the sign of peace”? How does that remind you of today’s Gospel?
FAMILY CHALLENGE
At 3:00pm each day this week (the hour of mercy), say "Jesus, I trust in you" and pray for an increase in trust in God. Set a reminder on your phone to help you remember.
FUN FACTS
April 12th is Drop Everything and Read Day (D.E.A.R. Day). It is also National Licorice Day. Grab a snack and read some Scripture that day.
