Acts 4:32-35; Ps. 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Jn. 5:1-6; Jn. 20:19-31
Water and blood testified “Peace be with you” in the Spirit of truth. What did the disciples experience in the witness of the resurrected Christ? They first experienced the calming of their fears in his greeting of peace at the shock of seeing the resurrected Christ. They experienced Jesus physical presence marked by the wounds of his hands and side. They experienced the breath of Jesus coming into them as the Holy Spirit with power. They experience a command to go forth to forgive and retain sins in the same Spirit of truth as the moral compass in this world.
The water from the side of Jesus Christ is baptizing in spirit and truth. The blood from his side is the sacrifice of the lamb in atonement for our sins. They work together to bring us salvation for those “who have not seen and have believed.” The disciples saw “many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written”. In Jesus, the disciples saw the glory of the resurrected body transcending the natural law, the glory to come for those who believe and die in the faith of Jesus Christ.
St. Tomas Aquinas wrote of the seven qualities of the resurrected body to come for those who believe. These qualities the disciples saw in Jesus resurrected and are listed as “identity, integrity, quality, impassability, sotility, agility, and clarity. This is our hope and God’s promise to those who believe.
Beginning with “identity” they recognized Jesus though he was transfigured by the divine light in his identity yet coming in his divinity. We are created with our original identity perfect yet stained by sin and humanity’s weaknesses. When he breathed on his disciples with the gift of the Holy Spirit then their hearts, minds, and souls received his perfect identity to go forth and minister to this perfect love to the world. These were the same disciples who in fear ran and denied Jesus now are given the power to stand and testify to the resurrection. Alleluia!
To this identity we are given our “integrity” of body without any further decay and our senses with perfect vision, mobility, without handicap or disabilities. No more suffering or sickness but the fullness of health in mind, body, and spirit. Alleluia!
Perfect integrity comes with perfect “quality” of life. What is this “prime” of quality of life in the resurrection? It is not a number in sequence of aging in which we return to be 21 again or 33 again. It is a state of life in the spiritual maturity to know God, love God, and serve God. It is being the best God created us to be with the gifts of grace he pours into us. Alleluia!
Having entered into the divine life there is an “impassability” of returning to a mortal state where disease, injury, or death return. Death has been defeated by Jesus resurrection and with it the power of evil. When the dead rise again, they receive the resurrected body with the impassability to return to a “reincarnation” of a fallen nature. Alleluia!
Jesus appears to the disciples “when the doors were locked” both times demonstrating his “sotility” to pass through material nature. Jesus tells Thomas “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side” shows us Jesus presence in body not as a spiritual image but full in body yet not restricted by the material doors. Before Star Track came up with “beam me up Scotty” came Jesus by his own sotility with the power to be both tangible and unrestricted. Alleluia!
In his divinity with both body and spirit Jesus demonstrates his power of “agility” to move through space at the speed of thought as the soul obeys the will to be agile as a spark of light. In a world where we take for granted the speed of communication in technology we remain in our humanity as slow as a turtle. Jesus “agility” demonstrates we will receive this same agility in our resurrection to be present where the will desires. Alleluia!
Finally, Jesus demonstrates his “clarity” free from imperfections to the degree of “charity” meaning no signs of the scourging he endured yet he remained with the perfect sign of his charity with the nail marks and scar on his side. How is this perfect “clarity” if marked by the sign of his crucifixion? Jesus wounds remained for Thomas to see and believe as the crucifix remains as a reminder of his suffering for our sins. This clarity of charity is perfect love until the day of his return in glory. Alleluia!
Jesus was perfect in love, knowledge and understanding when he calls out Thomas “do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Even though Jesus was not present when Thomas declared “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into into his side, I will not believe” Jesus had full knowledge of Thomas and in his love of Thomas welcomed him to believe as he invites us to believe and be blessed this Easter season. Alleluia! Alleluia!
In a world with so much suffering, disease, anxiety, trauma, tragedy, and restlessness we long to receive the same peace given to the disciples and the breath of Jesus. Jesus also longs to give us the same gift he gave to the disciples so where is the disconnect? It begins with failing to live out the commandments even when the “are not burdensome”. Love of God is faith in action! We claim to have faith but our will is directed inward, not seeking the will of the Father. Active love of God is constantly seeking “Lord what is your will?” Resurrection comes with the death of the “old” self, opening up the soul to the inpouring of the Spirit to do the will of the Father. This is a great step of faith. Whoever is ready for this total surrender comes to the water and blood to rest in the peace of Christ. The journey is a work in progress towards spiritual maturity and we all fall short along the path but Jesus remains present and waiting to lift us up and continue fighting the good fight. Never give in to the spirit of defeat from the evil one. In the darkest moments we will be made new again.
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