Today’s Gospel reading is filled with verses that support Catholic teaching. Allow me to share my reflection.
John 20:19 “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
The first verse alone demonstrates that the Apostles regularly met on the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK which is Sunday. This is further supported by John 20:26, showing that this is not only a “one-time” meeting, rather, it is obligatory. Acts 20:7 likewise proves this point.
John 20:20 “After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”
Jesus recognized the fact that His disciples are human. Thus, as humans, we always look for something tangible in order for us not only to believe but also to help us focus. A parallelism would be the reason why God uses physical or material things not only as representation, but as means to convey His grace and blessings. We see in Numbers 21:4-9, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole. Which begs the question, “Why was there a need for the bronze serpent when God could have forgiven them at an instant or if they professed that “They were repentant for what they said in Numbers 21:5 and that they believe that He is the One, True God?”
In the same manner, why was there a need for the Ark of the Covenant? or the Burning Bush?
John 20:21 “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
This verse signifies that HE HAS LEFT HIS MINISTRY TO A GROUP OF MEN. Not everyone who comes in His name is His apostle. Likewise, no one can lay claim to APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION but those whom these men has passed their office to. (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 and 2 Timothy 1:6)
John 20:22 “And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Here we see that the APOSTLES were LITERALLY God-breathed. Fundamentalists would usually use 2 Timothy 3:16 as proof text for Sola Scriptura and to emphasize that Scripture is INSPIRED.
It says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness..”
Little do they notice that by their use of the term “God-breathed” to further their claim of AUTHORITY for Scripture, they have likewise shot themselves, for the term God-breathed in the same manner RENDERS AUTHORITY to the CHURCH and MAGISTERIUM.
John 20:23 “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
This clearly shows that THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION IS BIBLICAL. Notice that immediately after Jesus redeemed humanity from its sin, He emphasized that forgiveness is attained by seeking His forgiveness from the apostles… The role of the apostle was very important so much so that if an apostle does not forgive a particular sin, then it is not forgiven. Which begs the question, “how does he know the sin that you want to be forgiven if you do not tell him?”
John 20:26 was discussed in relation to John 20:19.
John 20:28 “Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
His power over Death showed that He was not some misguided rabbi with delusions of grandeur… His resurrection clearly and powerfully showed His divinity. I would take Thomas’ word anytime against others who say that Jesus was not God. He was an apostle and a first hand witness.
Others would say that this was an “OH MY G” scenario…. to them we likewise respond with “OMG” (pun intended)
Others would say “Absent kasi si Tomas kaya mali ang turo!!!”
In response, we borrow Bro Alfie Angeles response… “Saan ang sitas na pag absent e mali na ang turo?”
John 20:29 “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
To this day, there are a lot among us who still refuse to believe. It comes in various forms… a.) people who do not believe that God exists. b.) people who deny Him and His divinity. c.) people who choose other gods to believe in and serve.
Nonetheless, we find joy in the fact that He Himself has promised His blessing to those of us who believe.
John 20:30 “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.”
Not everything is in this book… Do we need to say more about it? (please see John 21:25) Nuff said!