Quasimodo Geniti, the 1st Sunday after Easter + John 20:19-31 + April 8, 2018
Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The first part of today’s gospel lesson occurred on the evening of the day Christ was raised from the dead. The disciples had heard the report of Mary and the other women who had found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. The doors are locked because they feared the same Jews who had arrested and crucified their Lord. Perhaps they reasoned that as word of Jesus’ resurrection got out, the Jews would come for them next. They also had fears within themselves. Each of them had, after all, fled from Jesus in the Gethsemane garden. Peter had even drew his sword and cut off a man’s ear. He later followed Jesus to the High Priest’s home where he publicly denied Christ three times. It was in the midst of their fear and guilt that the resurrected Christ suddenly appeared in their midst and said, “ Peace be with you. ” He goes on to show them His hands and His feet, where the nails had fastened Him to ...