Year B - 2nd Sunday of Easter

John 20:19-31

After my resurrection I visited the apostles, they were still in a state of shock, unable to comprehend how their master had left them, they were afraid, confused and did not know what to do.

I stood among them and said “Peace be with you”. True peace from God did not exist in the world until that moment, since the peace from God is the fruit of the reconciliation between God and men. My peace filled their hearts and will fill the heart of any one who experiences my forgiveness.

My apostles rejoiced immensely, with a great sense of relief although they were still astounded , so I said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." At this moment I delegated my heavenly authority to the apostles, so that they could continue my work in the Church.

After this “I breathed on them”, reminding the moment of the creation of man when God breathed life for the first time. I said to them “Receive the Holy Spirit, ”

If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained."

This was the beginning of the new creation, the children of God who share the Holy Spirit, man was redeemed now, he could share the greatest gift which is God’s presence. I empowered my apostles and their successors to forgive sins which was the main purpose of my coming to the world.

Thomas was not there when this happened, and you were not there either, because of this I said to Thomas and to you now: “do not doubt but believe. Blessed are those who believe in me without seeing me.”

My Divine Mercy has been made available to everyone in the Sacrament of confession. When you confess your sins to the priest you are confessing them to me because my authority to forgive sins was given to the Church. Doubt no longer but believe.

My dear child, I desire for your faith to be strong. Do not question the Holy Scriptures but believe. Believe in the power that is ever present in my Church to forgive sins in the Sacrament of Confession, believe in my presence in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Come to all the sacraments, those holy encounters with me, with utter humility and contrition because you have sinned and you will be forgiven. Believe in me and my joy will be yours.