We often think that Thomas was the only one who doubted the resurrection of Christ as John’s Gospel presents it to us (John 20:19-21). Is that really the case? Did the other apostles doubt his resurrection too? Today’s gospel describes how the other apostles came to believe that Christ had risen from the dead and how their faith was strengthened through the Scripture. We recall the event of Easter Sunday, how John and Peter ran to the tomb, Simon Peter went into the tomb, saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin. He was still in doubt till John entered the tomb, saw the signs and believed.
John also helped Simon Peter and other disciples to believe in the resurrection when Jesus stood on the sea shore of Tiberias after his resurrection but they did not know it was Him until John said to them, “It is the Lord” (John 21:4-7). Also, Mary Magdalene expressed her doubt when she said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have placed him” (John 20:3-4). In today’s Gospel, the two disciples on their way to Emmaus also expressed their doubts on the resurrection, at their return to Jerusalem, they shared their story on how they recognized Christ in the breaking of bread and how he questioned their doubts saying, “Why are you troubled, and why do questioning rise in your hearts?” (Lk 24:38). It was obvious the disciples were ignorant of the Scripture that Christ had to open their minds to understand it.
He did everything humanly possible to convince them and clear their doubts of his resurrection at his different apparitions to them. In clearing their doubts, he reminded them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to these things” (vv. 47-47). They were told by their Master what to preach, where to preach it, how to preach it and where to begin the preaching. The disciples, as seen in the first reading successfully carried out these instructions. We see Peter preaching to the people about Christ, the author of life they crucified, of which he said, “To this we are witnesses” (Acts 3:15).
As Christ opened the minds of the disciples to understand the Scripture, Peter opened the minds of the people to understand Christ when he spoke to them about the God of Israel, the God represented in the Hebrew Scriptures, the God who glorified his servant Jesus. Isaiah 42 spoke well of this servant and Isaiah 52: 13-53:12 spoke of the exultation of this servant, “He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high…” He preached to them of the suffering of Jesus Christ, accused them of their contribution to his suffering and death on the cross, their denying of Jesus Christ as he himself had done. Interestingly, he addressed them as “Brethren,” saying, “I know that you acted in ignorance…” (Acts 3:17).
He recognized that they called for the execution of Christ in ignorance of God’s plan to save them. This however, is not an excuse and does not make them innocent, but it did carefully define the nature of their guilt. Ignorance is not an excuse to the law, if we sin in ignorance; it is still sin, though different from sin done in full knowledge. On this note that Peter called for repentance, that your sins may be blotted out. In the second reading, the first letter of St. John tells us, “I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1Jn 2:1-2). Each time we fail to believe in the resurrection, we sin against God.
We may profess by words our belief but our actions speak otherwise. Dear brethren, how often have we doubted the resurrection of Christ? It is unthoughtful if we call ourselves Christians and do not believe in the resurrection of Christ or believe that we will share in his life after death. How often do we doubt his presence in the breaking of bread, the Eucharist? Today Peter speaks to us on repentance; do we still doubt the authority given to the Church for forgiveness of sins through sacramental confession? Each time we doubt the presence of Christ in the life of the Church, we express doubt of his resurrection, of which we often find ourselves guilty.
However, as we express our fears and doubts in different ways, let us not leave the Blessed Virgin Mary aside on this journey of faith, for she is the Mother of believers. We pray that she continues to help us and help all mothers who celebrate today as their feast day to be true believers and witnesses of the risen Lord, through Christ our Lord. Amen! Happy Sunday! Happy Mother’s Day!
