On the evening of the first day of the week, the disciples, afraid of the Jews, were locked in a room and Jesus appeared in their midst, showed them His hands and His side and said, 'Peace be with you." John 20:19-20
There are many things in the world today which can cause fear, distress and uncertainty. Jesus came to take away our fears and give us His great gift of peace.
He breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain are retained." John 20:22-23
When Jesus breathed on the disciples, they received the Holy Spirit and He gave them the power to forgive sins or to retain them. Jesus has given you the gift to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to receive forgiveness of your sins. When your sins are forgiven, the Holy Spirit showers grace upon you so that you can go and sin no more. Go to Confession. Jesus is waiting for you.
When Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples, Thomas was not with them When they saw Thomas later, they told him that they had seen the Lord. Thomas doubted and said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." John 20:25 A week later, the disciples were in the locked room again and Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving but believe." Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God." John 20:26-28
I recall an experience which was stressful. A beautiful priest told me to take my rosary in my hand and on each bead, pray, "Jesus I trust in You." I have a beautiful rosary given to me by a dear friend. The beads on this rosary are small miraculous medals. This rosary is so precious to me. I pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day with it. I did what the priest told me to do, but I also added my own prayer. On every miraculous medal, I prayed,
"Jesus I trust in You. Help me to trust You more deeply."
The stressful situation resolved itself in ways I could have never imagined and Jesus did help me to trust Him more deeply. Maybe you can try this way of prayer too. Jesus will draw you in close and He will help you to trust Him more deeply.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in His Name. John 20:30-31
O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You. Jesus I trust in You. From the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
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