Quasimodogeniti, the 1st Sunday after Easter + John 20:19-31
Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! O n the evening of that day when Christ rose from the dead He appeared to His disciples. They had heard the testimony of the women who had gone into the tomb and heard the angel’s words. Peter and John had ran to the tomb and found it empty as well. Yet they were afraid. They feared the Jews who had crucified Christ. If He was not in the tomb, the Jews would come looking for them. But they were also afraid of their sins. Each of them had deserted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. All had fled. Peter followed behind at a distance but then publicly denied Christ three times. They fear the Jews and their threats and wrath. They feared their own sins. Gathered together in their fear, the doors shut because of that fear, “ Jesus came and stood in the midst .” Using His divine power He passes through the door and stands there in the middle of these men full of fear and says, “ Peace be with you. ” He had every right to scold them....