April 24, 2022, Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy (Year C)
It can be difficult to understand why the twelve men chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers are sometimes called disciples and sometimes called apostles. It might seem like the two titles are interchangeable. But they are not. In fact, the two titles are very different, almost opposite in meaning. A disciple is like a student, learning from a teacher or someone of authority. And an apostle is someone who teaches others, one who is sent on a mission to carry or pronounce a particular message. We can see the difference by looking at the readings for this Second Sunday of Easter.
It first begins in the Gospel from John for today (Jn 20:19-31). It is the first day of the week, what we call Sunday, and the disciples have locked themselves in a private room fearing that the Jewish officials who put Jesus to death might come after them as well. Suddenly, without warning, Jesus appears to them and says, “Peace be with you” (Jn. 20:19b). He then shows them the wounds on his hands and his side to prove that it is him.
Imagine the plethora of emotions the disciples must have been feeling. They never imagined that the man they had thought was the Messiah would have been crucified and now he has reappeared. The sadness, abandonment, fear, and guilt has been wiped away to be replaced by joy and celebration. Then Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the disciples, and he gives them a mission saying, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn. 20:21b). The disciples have now become apostles through this command of Jesus.
However, one of the disciples named Thomas is missing during this first encounter. When he returns to the group, they tell him that they have seen Jesus. But Thomas refuses to believe without concrete proof.
So, a week later when they are again locked in the room, Thomas is there with the others. Jesus appears to Thomas and shows him the wounds in his hands and his side. Thomas is astonished, and now he believes saying, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn. 20:28). Thomas is now ready to join the others in the ministry that Jesus has given them. He is no longer a disciple; he is now an apostle.
We can see how some of the former disciples fulfill their roles as apostles by looking at the other readings for today. In the First Reading from the book of Acts (Acts 5:12-16), the apostles have performed many signs and wonders. Their actions cause more and more people to believe in the Lord and because of their witness many seek to be cured by them. Many people come from the areas surrounding Jerusalem to be freed from the possession of evil spirits. In fact, so great is the power of one of the apostles, Peter, that his mere shadow causes the ill laying on cots and mats to be healed. These are the actions and power of the disciples who are now apostles.
In the Second Reading (Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19) we hear the testimony of the author of the book of Revelation. He is believed to be the Beloved Disciple and author of the fourth Gospel, John the son of Zebedee. We might consider him to be the first disciple turned apostle because the Easter Gospel reading from last week stated that upon entering the empty tomb, “he saw and believed.” (Jn. 20:8b).
John has been exiled to the island of Patmos for his proclamation of Jesus and God’s word. The beginning of the book of Revelation tells how John received his power: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.” (Rev. 1:1-2).
John is instructed by Jesus to write on a scroll what he sees. First, he has a vision of the risen Christ who stands in the midst of seven gold lampstands wearing a priestly ankle-length robe, with the gold sash of a king around his chest. The seven lampstands represent seven churches of the first century to which Jesus wants John to deliver a message.
At first, John falls to the ground out of fear. But Jesus tells him not to be afraid. He is, in fact, the risen Christ who John and the other disciples had seen after his crucifixion. He is the one who once was dead, but now lives forever and ever. He instructs John to write down all he has seen and what he will continue to see.
This disciple, John, has now become an apostle and he writes an entire book of visions and revelations to the seven churches represented by the seven lampstands. The purpose of the book is to strengthen the faith of the members of these churches by giving to them the assurance that deliverance from the evil powers of the Roman Empire arrayed against them will soon be overcome by the risen Christ.
It would be remiss to fail to mention one of the more resent disciples turned to an apostle on this Divine Mercy Sunday. It is Sr. Mary Faustina who received and wrote down her visions of and communications with the risen Jesus. These she wrote about in a diary including this Divine Mercy Sunday in which Christians receive forgiveness of sins through the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation. Sr. Faustina who is considered to be the “Apostle of Divine Mercy” was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 18, 1993.
In all of these stories there is a message for Christians today. Every time we attend Mass we learn about the Triune God through the Liturgy of the Word. At this point we are disciples, followers of Christ. But when we leave the Church, during the dismissal, we are sent as apostles or leaders to bring the good news of the Gospel to those we encounter in our daily lives. We are empowered for our evangelization through the reception of the most holy Eucharist.
The context of the message that we bring is found in our Responsorial Psalm for today: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.” (Ps. 118:22-24).
