Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.
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. JN 20:19-30
Jesus begins today’s resurrection narrative giving the Apostles the power to forgive sins through Him. He is setting up the early Catholic Church. 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.”
Second, Thomas comes to believe because he sees Jesus and puts his fingers into His hands and his fist into His side. This is important because it is physical proof that Jesus resurrected. Then, Thomas uses the words, “My Lord and My God,” proving that Jesus is God, the Messiah, and has risen.
During the consecration of the host, I say the words of Thomas at the resurrection to remind me of this physical proof and that Christ is physically present on the altar. This helps remind me that I am about to receive Him, and I must receive Him worthily. A few gentle reminders to prepare yourself for each Mass you go to and receive Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity: fast for one hour before Mass, don’t chew gum at Church, no serious sin on your soul, prepare yourself for Mass by reading the readings beforehand, and use your imagination and remember the altar is Golgatha-what was once present in history is now present in mystery. I find that reading a spiritual book on the Eucharist helps me gain more knowledge, understanding, and most practically reminds me that Jesus is truly present. This helps me focus better at Mass and reminds me why it is important to prepare myself better. Jesus deserves our best.
Most importantly, taking time each day to step back and see the big picture realizing that God is truly present in every tabernacle, monstrance, and altar at Mass will keep all of us coming back but maybe never wanting to leave. Why leave God, He is the only necessary thing. We will truly be prepared for heaven when we can come to realize and understand where God is and never want to leave Him-isn’t that heaven anyway? Archbishop Robert Barron stated in his Word on Fire daily Gospel reflection, “The bodily resurrection of Jesus—as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep—is the great sign that heaven and earth are coming together. A body that can be touched and that can consume baked fish has found its way into the realm of heaven.
What does this mean? It means that bodies are not finally alien to God. We have indeed an Advocate in the heavenly places. Were the Resurrection a convenient story or a clever myth, the two realms of heaven and earth would be as separate as ever.”
This should change our perspective about what this life on earth is truly about-God has given us freedom.
We must learn to use it according to His plan for us by preparing or bringing our souls to maturity learning how to worship, how to love, and how to be a total self-sacrifice for others. This is what Christ came to show us and give us. We can only do it with these amazing bodies God has created us with made in His image and likeness. Then, at the end of time both our bodies and souls will be in the heavenly realm.
Today’s challenge: Time to go to confession if you haven’t gone since before Lent. We need the grace to keep fighting sin and our human desires that lead us to sin. Jesus tells us today that the sacrament of reconciliation is important. Buy a book on the Eucharist and read it before you go to Mass or in adoration. Ask God to give you the grace to realize He is truly present with us today at Mass. Amazing!
Be a servant, Become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
Believe, Jesus has truly risen! He is not dead! He is fully alive and present in us, in the Eucharist, in the monstrance and tabernacles throughout the world! Alleluia!
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