Today's Scriptural readings truly are "good news!" As my son, Paul, used to say: "Can you not believe it?"

Acts 5:12-16
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Rev 1:9-13, 17-19
John 20:19-31

By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed. Acts 5:12-16

In the first reading, people believed that if they could get Peter's shadow to fall on the sick, they would be healed, "and they were all healed."

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Let Israel now say
    that his loving kindness endures forever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say
    that his loving kindness endures forever.
4 Now let those who fear [the Lord] say
    that his loving kindness endures forever.

You pushed me back hard, to make me fall,
    but [the Lord] helped me. 
[The Lord] is my strength and song.
14     He has become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous.
    “The right hand of [the Lord] does valiantly.

22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is [the Lord's] doing.
    It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that [the Lord] has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

The crowds sang this psalm as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Yet a week later they would put him to death. Why? Because the Jewish leaders did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They really underestimated Jesus. It turned out that Jesus was the very cornerstone of God's plan of salvation. Yet Jesus forgave them from the cross. He still forgives you and me today. Yes, God's mercy does endure forever. 

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I John, your brother and partner with you in oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet saying, “What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades. Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter." Rev 1:9-13, 17-19

John is now a prisoner on the penal colony of Patmos. It's now 62 years after Jesus ascended into heaven. John was also with Peter and James at the Transfiguration when Jesus appeared in his glorified body with Moses and Elijah. He fainted then as well. Obviously seeing God in all his majesty and glory with our human eyes is too much to bear!

But what does Jesus do? He touches John and tells him to not be afraid. He is still alive. They may have killed his human body, but as God he is the alpha and the omega. He existed from the beginning and will live forever. He is the Lord of heaven, the earth and all things under the earth. He wants John to tell the churches that there is no reason to be afraid of death because he has defeated death once and for all. Jesus commands John to record the visions that the Holy Spirit will reveal to him, visions that will serve to strengthen the faith of his followers. John will record what he sees with his own eyes. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Their belief in him has saved them!

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When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”

Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. John 20:19-31

John 20 is all about believing. Whose sins will be forgiven? Those who believe in Jesus. Whose sins will not be forgiven? Those who do not believe in Jesus.

Did Thomas finally believe that Christ was back from the dead? Of course, he now had physical proof. But what about those who have never seen him in the flesh? They will be blessed because their belief is based only on faith, not on physical evidence. God's house has many mansions. Will those who believed without proof get a bigger house? Maybe not, but those who believe in Jesus and seek to follow his precepts have hope of attaining Paradise where there is no death, suffering, illness, war, or persecution. Only peace. Amen!

Now go and serve our King!

John