The Second Sunday of Easter - April 27, 2025

SummaryGrace Community Missioner Ed Carrette explores Jesus's words from John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you," explaining that Christ's peace is not merely the absence of noise but His very presence with us—a costly gift flowing from His death, resurrection, and ascension that sustains us even in a hostile world. This divine peace, which passes all understanding, is meant to be received, lived in, and shared with others as we fulfill Christ's commission.THE GOSPEL                                                                                    John 20:19-31When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then 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." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told 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 in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Artwork: The Incredulity of St. Thomas, by Benjamin West (1738-1820)