Third Sunday of Easter

I know only one word in American Sign Language, but to me, it’s the best word.  It’s Jesus.  To sign Jesus, you take the middle finger of one hand and place in in the middle of the other hand’s palm and then do it again, switching hands.  It’s a beautiful sign, and we are called to look at it in today’s gospel.

After appearing to the disciples and frightening them in doing so, Jesus tells them, “Look at My hands and My feet.” He wasn’t trying to shame them or make them feel bad.  Rather, His hands and feet, bearing the holes made by the nails at the crucifixion, are powerful reminders of the love that He has for them and for us.  Even in His glorified risen Body, Jesus still bears the marks that speak of the price He paid for us to save us from sin and death.

It is most important to remember that Jesus died for our sins, as evidenced by the fact that it is mentioned in each of today’s Scripture readings.  In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter preaches to the people that witnessed the miracle he performed for the lame man and tells them that Jesus was the Christ who suffered for them.  In return, they need to be converted to have their sins wiped away.

St. John, as an old man, writes in the second reading and tells us not to commit sin, but he reassures us that if we do, we have an Advocate, one who will take our side, who has offered Himself as an expiation for the sins of the world. 

And Jesus opens the minds of the disciples to the Scriptures to understand that He had to suffer and rise again so that sins might be forgiven.  Now they are to be witnesses to that and are sent out to preach repentance so that all might know of the forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers.

The joyful season of Easter is all about new life and living eternally, but at the heart of the mystery of the Resurrection is the mercy that is offered to us.  We are all sinners, every one of us.  And we need to repent and trust in God’s mercy each and every time we sin.  Jesus will never refuse us, no matter how often we have to ask. 

We believe in Jesus and have received the promise of eternal life in Baptism.  The Holy Spirit dwells within us.  Jesus offers His Body and Blood to us in the Eucharist.  We are strengthened in the Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation. We receive pardon from our sins and grace to do better in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

But we still need to do our part.  We need to have a close relationship with Jesus and rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, allowing the Spirit to work within us to make us holy.  As St. John wrote in today’s second reading, we need to keep the Lord’s commandments and keep His word so that the love of God will be perfected within us.  We need to work at this each and every day of our lives, until we see the hands and feet of Jesus when we meet Him at the end of our life.

No matter how difficult or busy our lives get, we need to take time to pray, to look at the hands and feet of Jesus, and to hear Him offer us “Peace.”   We need to read God’s word.  We need to keep His commandments.  We need to serve and love others.  And we need to seek God’s mercy and grace.  Trusting in the Lord, we will live with Him forever.