Mass | April 12, 2026 | 2nd Sunday of Easter

The liturgy opens with the blessing of the baptismal font and a prayer that frames the Paschal mystery as the source of new life. John’s Gospel describes Jesus entering a locked room, greeting the fearful disciples with “Peace be with you,” showing his wounds, and breathing the Holy Spirit upon them—this gift both reassures and authorizes. The narrative contrasts paralysis and proclamation: the disciples move from hiding in fear to being sent as witnesses, given authority in the Spirit to forgive and to reconcile. Thomas’s demand for tactile proof and his ensuing confession, “My Lord and my God,” highlight the depth of faith that trusts the risen Lord even when sight lags behind reality.

The homily presses the point that fear can be useful for survival yet destructive when it becomes a tomb that prevents service. Two everyday stories—one of a child reluctant to face school and another of a retiree deferring service at a ministry—illustrate how courage grows not by erasing fear but by enlarging faith. Resurrection life calls believers out of self-preservation into compassionate action; mercy both comforts and propels.

The baptismal rite unfolds as a visible enactment of these themes. Parents and godparents renounce sin, profess the Creed, and present the child to receive rebirth by water and the Spirit. The anointing with chrism, the white garment, and the light of Christ signal incorporation into Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly life and the duty to nurture that gift. Miles Giovanni’s baptism becomes an emblem of the church’s continual work: to form new members who will live and witness the Paschal mystery.

Divine Mercy Sunday shapes the prayers and intercessions, emphasizing God’s boundless compassion and the hope of resurrection for the faithful departed. The Eucharist gathers these elements—sacrifice, thanksgiving, and communion—calling the assembly to be fed and sent. The dismissal summons perseverance: clothed in Christ and strengthened by sacramental life, the faithful are commissioned to carry peace, mercy, and witness into daily life.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Peace breaks the grip of fear Fear is not the enemy of faith; it is the condition Jesus enters. Peace given by the risen Lord interrupts the cycle of hiding and opens space for trust, permitting action even while anxiety remains. This peace is practical—enabling service, reconciliation, and the courage to be present where need is greatest. [26:11]
• 2. The Spirit commissions for mission Breathing the Spirit onto the disciples inaugurates responsibility as well as consolation. The same gift that heals fear also empowers the work of forgiving, reconciling, and being sent into a wounded world. Mission flows from reception; authority accompanies care, binding personal renewal to communal vocation. [22:20]
• 3. Faith that sees beyond sight Thomas’s confession shows that authentic belief can follow doubt and that blessedness rests on trust without direct sight. Belief matures when faced with honest questioning, leading to a faith that recognizes Christ in wounds and in ordinary life. Such faith bears witness precisely because it chooses fidelity where proof is not demanded. [23:58]
• 4. Baptism clothes the new creation Baptism is both gift and task: it marks rebirth and summons sustained formation. Water, chrism, garment, and light make visible a reality that must be guarded against sin’s contagion and nurtured into fruitfulness. The baptized enter a communal apprenticeship in holiness, learned by word, example, and sacramental life. [37:05]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:15] - Blessing of the Baptismal Font
• [12:34] - Paschal Prayer of Renewal
• [21:53] - Jesus Appears: Peace and Spirit
• [23:06] - Thomas’ Doubt and Confession
• [26:11] - Overcoming Fear for Mission
• [36:19] - Baptism of Miles Giovanni
• [48:46] - Eucharist, Mercy, and Sending

Bible Reading
John 20:19-29 (ESV)
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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Observation Questions

1. What specific actions did Jesus take when He appeared to the disciples (e.g., words, physical gestures)? How did the disciples respond initially?
2. Thomas demanded physical proof of Jesus’ resurrection. What changed his doubt into the confession, “My Lord and my God”?
3. The sermon shared a story about a retiree hesitant to serve at a ministry. What two things helped him move past his fear? [31:32]

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Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus showed His wounds to the disciples and to Thomas? What does this reveal about how God meets us in our doubts or fears?
2. Jesus says, “As the Father sent me, so I send you” (v. 21). How does the gift of the Holy Spirit connect to being “sent” for mission?
3. The sermon said, “Fear is not the enemy of faith; it is the condition Jesus enters.” How does Jesus’ peace interrupt cycles of fear and hiding? [26:11]

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Application Questions

1. When have you felt “locked” by fear like the disciples? What practical step could you take this week to lean into Jesus’ promise of peace instead of staying paralyzed?
2. Thomas’s doubt led to deeper faith. Is there an area of your life where you’re wrestling with doubt or needing “proof” from God? How could you bring that honestly to Him?
3. The retiree in the story needed encouragement to serve despite fear. Who in your life could you encourage this week to step into a challenging act of mercy or service? [31:45]
4. Baptism symbolizes being “clothed in Christ” for a life of mission. What’s one way you could live out your baptismal identity this week—whether through forgiveness, compassion, or sharing hope?
5. Jesus sent the disciples to forgive and reconcile. Is there a relationship in your life where you feel called to extend forgiveness or seek reconciliation? What would it look like to take the first step?