Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. On this Second Sunday of Easter, the universal Church celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. It is a feast which calls upon us to recognize the greatness of God’s merciful love so that we can “take advantage” of it and enjoy the fullness of life that God wishes upon us. Because this merciful love of God towards us was fully expressed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (cf. Romans 5:8), it is only fitting that this feast be celebrated in the octave of the great solemnity of Easter. 
The passage constituting the First reading is part of the story that recounts the wonderful transformation that was taking place within the early Christian community. The days following the arrest, prosecution and execution of Jesus was definitely a difficult time for group that Jesus had gathered around himself. Not only had the group been scattered by the violent arrest and prosecution of Jesus, but fear also came upon the group. They feared – and rightly so - that the treatment their master and leader had received could be extended to them. The fears and concerns of the group notwithstanding, we learn from the Acts of Apostles that some good did result from this group’s initial fear. 
Whereas the decision by Jesus’ disciples to band together was initially occasioned by a need for mutual support and security, it was not long before their coming together acquired a new meaning. In addition to companionship and mutual support, the disciples began to see in their banding together an opportunity to witness to the resurrection and to preach the Gospel message. The community spirit of the group became a magnet that was drawing believers to join them in order to share in their experience of the risen Christ. Moreover, the mighty signs that were being done in the name of the resurrected Christ became proof that the power of Jesus was alive and active within the camp. No longer was the community coming together merely out of fear of persecution by the authorities. The community was now coming together to demonstrate and witness to their faith in the risen Christ. 
The transformation of the group resulted, to a greater extent, from the reassurance that was brought about by the continued appearing of the risen Christ to the community. The appearances became an encouraging phenomenon to the community because they reassured Jesus’ followers of the continued presence of their master to them. The appearances were indeed proof that Jesus was keeping true to his promise to be with his followers until the end of time (cf. Matthew 28:20). In the first of the two appearances recounted in today’s Gospel Reading, Jesus, after wishing the gathered disciples peace, breathes upon them the Holy Spirit (the advocate whose responsibility was to teach and guide them [cf. John 16:13]) and sends them forth on mission. It is this gift of the Holy Spirit that emboldened the community into coming out of hiding in order to proclaim and witness to the resurrected Christ. The fact that Jesus had overcome death and was alive in their midst filled his followers with courage and zeal to tell the story of Jesus.
In the second appearance, Thomas is moved to confess the resurrected Jesus as Lord and God. After confirming that it was indeed the very Jesus whom he had seen die on the cross was the one now standing in their midst – albeit with a new ability to pass through locked doors and walls – Thomas falls on his knees in adoration of Jesus. Thomas recognizes the transformation that has taken place in Jesus his master. He recognizes that the resurrected Jesus is not merely the master he had known for the last couple of years. The body that he had touched as he put his finger in the wound at the side was not like his (Thomas’) own body. Having passed through death and emerged victorious, it had now become a glorious body. Jesus himself was now a divine being worthy of adoration. He was both Christ God. It was an enlightening moment that led to Thomas’ personal transformation. He became a believer in the resurrection (overcoming the powers of darkness) and went ahead to proclaim it to the ends of the earth. 
Like Thomas, the resurrection calls upon us to believe in the transformation that takes place when darkness is overcome. Like Thomas, our belief in the resurrection must ignite inside of us a desire to spread the good news of this transformation effected by the rising from the dead of Jesus. Like the disciples who were graced to see the resurrected Jesus, may our belief in the resurrection afford us new life that God has made available to us in Jesus Christ. 
Fr. Jeff