JOHN 20:19-23 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (May 31,2020)

JOHN 20:19-23 GOSPEL READING AND REFLECTION (May 31,2020)

On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the door were locked where the disciples were because of their fear of the Jews. But Jesus came, and stood among them, and said to them, “Peace with you!” Then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples, seeing the lord, were full of joy. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me , so I send you.” After saying this, he breath on them. “ Receive the Holy Spirit! Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”

POINT OF REFLECTION

Today’s gospel is a perfect resemblance of the world under the threat of COVID 19. Almost all locked themselves in fear of their lives. This was of the same feeling of Jesus’ disciples when they locked themselves in fear of their lives against the Jews on the first day after Sabbath day. They were in great trouble because Jesus was not with them. They were eaten by their insecurities and worries because they have under estimated the power of God to take control. But Jesus took it all when he suddenly appeared in their midst and greeted “ Peace be with you!” and showed with them his hands and his side. There and then, all of them were full of joy.

In a situation of great fear and danger only Jesus can gave us fullness of joy. He alone can make us alive and courageous in the despair of this world.

In this time of crisis, the world seems to disappear from us. Many were kept in loneliness most specially if we lost sight unto Jesus. The period of quarantine is an opportune time for us Christians to find joy in Jesus. Lets make this isolation day a unification day unto Jesus so that when the new normal begins we will start it on fire by the breath of the Holy Spirit. This is so because Jesus send his disciples as the Father sent him as we are in this generation.