We are glad that you found us, the DEACON-5! Here, we will be posting daily Gospel reflections, Mondays through Fridays, each day written by a different permanent deacon in our group. We pray that you find inspiration and a touch of God’s love for sharing some time with us. Please feel free to leave a comment or a prayer request for us!
Blessings to you all! Deacon Ray Gallego, Deacon Mike Hidalgo, Deacon Paul Machuca, Deacon George Mora, Deacon Carlos Porras, Deacon Ray Emnace and Deacon Chuck McDaniels
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But Thomas said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Reflection:
Today, we remember St Thomas, and we hear the Gospel that we hear on the Second Sunday of Easter, where we see Thomas in all his “doubting” glory. But, isn’t it true that Thomas gets a bad rap, you know – “Doubting Thomas”? We don’t know why he wasn’t present that first Easter night. But, we know from the few verses prior to today’s Gospel that Thomas missed that blessing of peace that Jesus came to give them that first night.
Thomas in the Gospels is portrayed as being very literal-minded. When Jesus says they are to return to Judea, even though He was under threat of death, Thomas says that they should go to die with Him. Remember, too, that while Jesus had raised others from the dead (Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue official), He hadn’t raised Himself before. Some caution about that probably was reasonable, if we consider Thomas to have that kind of personality.
Yes, Thomas does say that he won’t believe without touching the nail marks, or putting his hand into Jesus’ side. And, maybe the very harsh words we have in the translation of Thomas’ words to English may have been said in a way that seems less faithless.
But, consider this – in verse 27, Jesus offers to let Thomas touch His wounds, knowing Thomas needed that. Thomas, however, does not do that. John does not record Thomas touching Jesus in any way. Instead, in verse 28, Thomas proclaims Jesus as “My Lord and My God”, something that none of the other Apostles do in His presence. In essence, Thomas makes the most bold proclamation in place of seeking proof. So, why do we malign him with the name “Doubting Thomas” after all that?
In my mind, we can’t. Thomas was a fallible human being, like all of us. As a fallible human being, we all have doubts. We don’t know what God’s plan is in its entirety – only God knows it. We only get to see little bits of it, and when we cooperate with Him, we get to help bring it about. But life is messy. People hurt each other. People fail to love their brothers and sisters. People are unforgiving and even mean-spirited. We may wonder why God doesn’t just “fix” everything. The answer is that He calls on each of us, who are followers of His Son, to help, by reminding everyone that we are all – yes, ALL – loved endlessly by the One who created us.
That, I believe, is a mission that will take us all a lifetime to try to carry out! And, we have St Thomas to pray for each of us that we may never be overcome by doubt, but overcome doubt with faith and love.
St Thomas, pray for us.
Action for the Day:
Take time today to consider the times that you have doubted God’s plan in your life (or in the world in general). And, instead of asking God for proof that He does indeed love us, ask Him to give you a desire to just trust in Him, and that you may be open to whatever part of that mission in the world that will bring others to know Him and love Him. It’s okay if you have to repeat that prayer tomorrow and the day after, and the day after that. Trust that He will answer it!
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 9:1-8
(Glory to you O Lord!)
After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”– he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He rose and went home. When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to men.
The Gospel of the Lord (Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!).
Reflection: We have a great God of mercy!
What a miracle we have just read and heard! Such awe, such wonder must have been felt by all who witnessed the healing of a man who was a paralytic. Someone who was unable to get up from bed, from a lying down position, or even care for themselves, unable to work, or move around. Their state must have felt like a death sentence. Such hardships this man must have gone through, unable to provide for himself or his family.
And what amazement and astonishment he must have felt as he lay on the stretcher, as well as for the people carrying him, as Jesus does something they do not expect. Jesus could see and feel the intentions of their minds and hearts, their great faith in Him. They all believed that Jesus can heal their friend.
What does Jesus do first? Jesus forgives them of their sins. Jesus showed to them that he is no ordinary human being, but the son of God! Our Lord saw their great faith! They did not formally ask for forgiveness, they did not need get on their knees or pray. All they did was to care for and look after the well-being of their friend by first telling him about Jesus, then they carried him on a stretcher to Jesus. Full of hope, full of trust and faith to present their friend for healing, and our merciful Lord forgave their sins on the spot. What a beautiful example of love, compassion, kindness and faith, as Jesus heals heals their friend!
Brothers and sisters! We have a great God of mercy! Always trust in our Lord Jesus! The creator of the universe knew us even before we were born in this world! He knows all about our challenges, struggles, our needs, and what we are going through. Always have faith and trust in our Lord Jesus! Allow Him to prompt and guide us daily through our minds and hearts. Lift up our needs and follow him! We have a loving God of great mercy who is always ready to show us the way towards holiness, and the joy and peace of eternity with Him.
Action for the Day:
Spend 20 minutes of quiet time with our Lord Jesus. Share our gratitude, our joys, our challenges, our shortcomings, as well as our needs and petitions to Him. We have a loving and merciful savior.
Lord Jesus, you know our needs even before we ask you about them. We lift up our petitions to you, especially for the healing of our dear friends, and relatives. Kindly grant us the grace of your presence always, and the joy of your peace. Amen.
From the holy Gospel according to Matthew: 8:28-34
At that time, when Jesus arrived at the other side of the lake, in the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs came out of the tombs and went to meet him. They were so fierce that no one dared to pass along that road. The demoniacs shouted at Jesus: “What do you want from us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Not far away, a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons pleaded with Jesus: “If you are going to drive us out, send us into those pigs.” He answered them: “Very well.”
Then the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs; the whole herd rushed down a steep bank into the lake, and the pigs drowned.
Those who tended the pigs fled to the city to report all these events and what had happened to the demoniacs.
Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and upon seeing him, they begged him to leave their territory.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection:
“Two demon-possessed men came out to meet him”
Jesus arrives at the other shore, reaching the region of the Gerasenes, located in the Decapolis. The inhabitants of Gerasa had not yet received the Good News of the Kingdom of God; they lived shrouded in the darkness that accompanies the absence of the light of God’s Kingdom.
Forces of evil were present among them, and these forces were unwilling to relinquish even the slightest hold on these men and women. The paths they dominated were rife with violence, and consequently, no one dared to traverse them. These are not paths of life and peace where a traveler might enjoy Creation or Nature; they are paths of darkness, suffering, and pain. The forces of evil are immensely powerful where darkness reigns.
“The whole herd rushed down the cliff”
Yet Jesus arrives at this shore, and His light brings life and hope to a region steeped in darkness; the Lord’s presence on that shore represents the victory of light over darkness, of peace over violence, and of hope over despair.
Today, too, the Lord must reach so many “regions”: lives enveloped in the pain of illness, men and women struggling to survive in a world dominated by economic and strategic interests—”paths” that are perilous to walk if one wishes to remain true to the honesty of God’s light.
Jesus is the light that comes to each of us to break the power of evil; we must not allow that force to shatter the fellowship born of having God as our Father. Jesus, the light of the world, illuminates our lives and fosters bonds of solidarity within us that dispel the shadows of human selfishness.
Action for the Day:
Recognize your fear: The disciples panicked because they forgot Jesus was with them in the boat. When stressed, pause and remember that you are never alone.
Practice active surrender: Do not panic or try to muscle through everything alone. Instead of panicking, pray for peace and trust that God’s grace can calm the chaos around you.
Reframe your focus: Shift your attention away from the size of the “storm” and focus instead on the power of God.
As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was being swamped by waves;
but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying,
“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
Reflection:
So, as it goes, today’s Gospel is the last part of a very busy day for Jesus. He healed the centurion’s slave (at a distance), healed Simon’s mother-in-law, and delivered many from demons. Understandably, He was ready for a nice quiet ride across the Sea of Galilee. But, as we see so often in the Gospels, Jesus doesn’t typically get a break. Today’s story is no different. I feel that way sometimes and I’m sure you do as well.
One thing about the Gospel of Mark, which I may have mentioned here on the DEACON5 once or twice over the years, is that Mark shows Jesus’ disciples (and the Apostles in particular) as just not “getting it” that He (Jesus) was not just a rabbi or teacher, but that He was the eternal Son of God!
Now, it is true that just about all of Jesus’ Apostles were uneducated, but I think the reason that Mark portrays them in this way is to give you and me hope for when we don’t understand what God is doing, or what His plan is. If you’re like me, those times may be a majority of the time!
We are called to trust and have faith. It’s a hard thing to do, but that is the work of us who believe. This past weekend, someone who went through the RCIA process a couple of years ago reached out, asking for prayer for a friend whose father died in a traffic accident recently. She was also asking what kind of special prayers one might offer in this situation. I think she was quite understandably trying to understand God’s purpose in such a tragedy.
Sadly, our human understanding will never be able to discern that. God alone has the whole picture. If you can, please offer a prayer for the family of that father, that they may find peace and consolation, even through the pain of the sudden loss. I think those prayers will really help and they’ll also show our companionship on the journey together as sons and daughters of our loving Lord.
Action for the Day:
As I mentioned, please offer a prayer for that family I spoke of. I don’t have their names, but you can just offer them to the Lord, that the father may be in God’s presence now, and that the family left behind know that God is with them and wants them to know that they are not going through this tragic time alone. On a personal note, it’s also my mom’s birthday today. If you would be so kind as to offer a prayer for her as she celebrates her birthday in heaven today, I would love that. Thank you!
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Reflection:
Think about this …Jesus could have chosen anyone as the rock on which to build His Church. He might have selected someone rich, powerful, or someone highly respected, or the temple priest or prophets. Instead, in His divine wisdom, Our Lord chose Simon Peter—an ordinary fisherman who was not wealthy and had no formal training in Scripture. Peter was a working-class man, much like us. Jesus called ordinary people to continue His mission, not those defined by status, wealth, influence, or social standing. What mattered to Him was not a person’s accomplishments, but what He could do through that person. The call was, and still is, about action, our action.
Take for example the qualities of a good fisherman are also the same qualities of a faithful disciple. Fishing requires patience and perseverance, just as discipleship does, especially in moments of discouragement and hardship. A skilled fisherman knows when and where to cast the line; likewise, a disciple must be sensitive to the hopes, needs, and struggles of others. And just as fishermen choose the right bait, disciples must understand people’s real lives so they can share the “Hope and Love” Jesus offers.
Today’s Scripture is not only a call to action but it’s our call from God to “take action”. The question is whether we are truly doing something in the name of Our Lord. Are we using the gifts He has given us to their fullest potential? This brings to mind one of my favorite passages from Galatians: “I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:19b-20. In other words, I strive to be a man of action—a “Fisher of Men”—because the life I live is not my own but belongs to the Lord. As I said last week and I will repeat it again, I may not be eye candy but I sure am soul food!
Action of the Day: PAUSE and PRAY and PONDER. Ask him! Ask God this simple question and then take the time throughout the day to ponder. Lord, what is it that you want me to do? If you listen, then He will answer you.
