Before I begin, sometimes members may have a pressing issue unrelated to our topics for the night. I ask you to please send those to me in advance and a) I may be able to reply right away, or b) perhaps I will notify everyone that we will start the session at 6:30 instead of 7 for whatever the requested subject is. Those interested can join in at 6:30. The regular bible study will begin at 7pm, as usual.
As for the usual questions that you have in the course of our discussions, NO PROBLEM, please continue. In fact, we need your questions!
TODAY: In case you weren't aware, today is called Divine Mercy Sunday. That's because God's mercy is at the center of everything - certainly at the center of saving humanity from itself. You will find divine mercy in each of the readings, which are shown below.
Btw, between Easter and Pentecost, the 1st Reading is always from Acts rather than an OT reading. That's because the time immediately following the Resurrection was the beginning of the Church (instituted at Pentecost). Almost everything Jesus did for the Apostles was to prepare them for this moment.
Also between Easter and Pentecost, the 2nd Reading, which is typically a letter from Paul, will come from the "Catholic Letters" (Peter, James, John, Jude). Year One (which we are in) are the (2) letters from Peter, Y2 is James, and Y3 are the (3) letters from John. Why are these called Catholic Letters? Because they are matters of faith addressed to everyone. Paul's letters are addressed to specific people, circumstances, and towns.
In Acts, we will look at the 4 cornerstones of the early Church faith.
In Peter, you may notice he speaks of the necessity of faith for salvation; so Paul isn't the only one to speak volumes about faith. Remember, when Paul occasionally criticizes works, he is speaking of the "works of the law," which were the many (613) ritual observances that developed over the centuries since Moses (and which Jesus also criticized). Paul is not referring to the works of love/charity, which Jesus exemplified. Nevertheless, Catholics like Protestants believe that Jesus Christ is the sole reason we have access to Heaven. The difference is that Protestants stop there, whereas the Church as taught from Apostolic times that we continue to work out our salvation throughout our lives, and that involves 1) prayer (which Christ did and showed us), 2) the Sacraments (which Christ gave to us), 3) and the good works that love demands of us (and as Jesus demonstrated 100% of his time). As Paul himself said, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)
In today's Gospel of John, you will notice...
- Jesus walks through doors ... comments?
- He exhorts "Peace" to them twice - why?
- He shows the Apostles his wounds (2 reasons for this)
- He now does what the Father does and tells the Apostles to do what he did
- Jesus breathes on them - what's that about?
- Jesus initiates the 3rd Sacrament with the Apostles
- We see the doubting of Thomas. What's the message for us?
- We see the divine mercy of Jesus and the surrender of Thomas
- We will discuss where Thomas went after this.
See you on Zoom tomorrow night! Ron
The readings:
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ... yet believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
John 20:19-31
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.
The End.
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