By Msgr. Joseph Prior • Posted April 25, 2025

(See the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy)

“My Lord and my God,” Thomas says to Jesus. The scene is quite dramatic. The Lord appears to the apostles again on the second Sunday after Easter. On Easter Sunday, when he had first appeared to them with the greeting of “Peace be with you,” Thomas had not been there.

The disciples had told him of Jesus’ resurrection but he refused to believe – so much so that he says: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now Jesus stands before him, alive, risen from the dead offering the same gift: “Peace be with you.” He shows Thomas his hands and side but it is not necessary. Faith has been restored in Thomas, and he makes the proclamation, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus has been calling forth faith throughout the public ministry. As recalled in the fourth Gospel, he performs the great “signs” (turning water into wine, multiplication of the loaves and fishes, cure of the man born blind, raising of Lazarus, etc.) so as to call forth faith from those who witness him. He invites the people to know him, and through him, the Father. We have seen some people place their faith in Jesus when they recognize him as the “savior of the world” (Jn 4:42), the “prophet” (Jn 6:14), and the “Messiah [Christ]” (Jn 4:25ff).

As Thomas encounters the Risen Lord, it is as if everything he knew about Jesus — through the time they spent together and through all his teaching, miracles, and preaching — comes together at this moment. And so, Thomas makes the most profound profession of faith in who Jesus is: “My Lord and my God!”

All of us who have received the Easter sacraments have been united with Christ through faith. We have made our profession of faith; and this profession continues to this day. Each one of us joins with Thomas in professing Jesus as “My Lord and my God.” We do it both in word and deed. We put flesh to this profession of faith by the way we live it out every day.

The apostles did this as they went forth from Jerusalem to far-away lands. All during the Easter season we hear passages from Acts of the Apostles as the first reading at Mass. In these readings, we hear the apostles proclaim Jesus crucified and risen. We hear them healing the sick, sharing their resources with one another and being mindful of the poor. Thomas’ profession, “My Lord and my God,” is lived out by all the apostles as they carry on the saving mission of Christ Jesus.

The work continues today in the life of the Church. Pope Francis lived this profession of faith and carried on the mission. His faith in the Risen Lord filled him with hope every day. The proclamation of Thomas, “My Lord and my God,” can be seen in Pope Francis’ joy at knowing the Risen Lord and in his love for humanity. Perhaps his greatest proclamation of “My Lord and my God” was in his compassion for the poor, the isolated, the sick and the outcast. May he rest in the peace of the Risen Lord whom he served and proclaimed.

The work of proclamation is entrusted to the entire Church. Each one of us has a part. We make that proclamation when Jesus is the center and focus of our lives.

Being such, our thanksgiving and worship proclaim him. Our compassion and kindness proclaim him. Our caring for the sick and companionship with the dying proclaim him. Our teaching the unknowing and instructing the uninformed proclaim him. Our consolation of the sorrowing and our rejoicing with the joyful proclaims him. Our quest for justice and our work for freedom proclaim him. Our offer of forgiveness and the acceptance of mercy proclaim him.

Proclamation flows from faith — faith in Jesus, risen from the dead. May our proclamation be rooted and founded in the One whom we acclaim: “My Lord and my God!”

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Msgr. Joseph Prior is pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, and a former professor of Sacred Scripture and rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.