Sunday Lectionary: Doubt and Mercy

2nd Sunday of Easter: 15th April, 2012

This Sunday, as well being the Second Sunday of Easter, it is also Divine Mercy Sunday (declared by Pope John-Paul II in April 30, 2000). The Readings in the Lectionary therefore accordingly celebrate and proclaim the great mercy of God.

Three times in our psalm we sing “His mercy endures forever”. In our Gospel, when the fearful Apostles encounter the Lord whom they abandoned, they are greeted not with anger and condemnation but with invitations of “peace”. Our First Reading describes the early Christian community’s response to this Divine Mercy. Because of their experience of God’s great love for them, they in turn loved one another. They cared deeply for the brethren and put themselves and their possessions at the service of the community. This great love for God and neighbour is further explored by St. John in this week’s Second Reading.

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself – Divine Mercy Chaplet

 

Reading I: Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35

Except for the Responsorial Psalm, we will now not be having any Old Testament Readings at Mass until the end of Easter. Therefore, rather than reading from an Old Testament book, our First Reading comes from the Acts of the Apostles, the New Testament book which chronicles the first thirty years of the Church.

This week’s extract comes just after the account of Pentecost. The passage describes the Early Church as a community united in love and purpose…

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

Questions:

• How would you characterize the Church of the First Century?
• How does the Church of the First Century compare with the Church of today?
• Why do we not hold “everything in common”  today?
• Do we find the kind of communal life described here anywhere in the Church today?
• How might we take to heart more deeply the teaching of this passage?

Commentary:

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, …

The community is described as being in perfect unity, the kind of unity that Jesus prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemane:

“…I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you… Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” – John 17:20-23

Christian unity is a powerful witness to the world, schism being a great scandal.

…and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.

The community wasn’t just united in belief, but in action. This commitment found its expression in a radical communal life. Recognizing everything as a gift from God, the disciples joyfully shared their possessions with one another. This is the opposite of our natural, selfish instinct to say “No! This is mine!”.

With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.

This is a continuation of the events of Pentecost:

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: … “…God raised [Christ] from the dead…”– Acts 2:13, 24

This witness would ultimately be the cause of their persecution and martyrdom.

There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

We see this idea today in parish life through the collection plate donations. However, a more exact replica of the Early Church’s radical communal life can still be found in monasteries and convents.

I wonder, could we restore something of this way of life to the broader Church?

“Are you not a thief? The goods entrusted to your stewardship you have hoarded. The bread you reserve belongs to the hungry. The coat hidden in your chest belongs to the naked. The shoes rotting in your house belong to those walk barefoot. …the Lord our God wants this earth to be the common possession of all human beings and its fruits to be for the use of all, but greed has produced the division of the land” – St. Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, 4th Century

In the passage following this week’s First Reading we read of the contrasting example of Ananias and Sapphira, the two disciples who lied about the amount of money they received from the sale of their property. They were struck down dead, not for their lack of generosity, but for their lie, having claimed to have given all of the money to the Church. You can see a rather amusing animation of this story here.

On a side note, as I was reflecting on this week’s First Reading, I was reminded that in AD 70, some thirty-seven years later, Jerusalem was utterly destroyed. Over a million Jews were slaughtered. The Christians escaped, making an “exodus” from Jerusalem to the village of Pella.

With this as our background, let us consider again the behaviour of that first Christian community. They sold their property and gave away the money. Given that a Roman army would soon be on its way to flatten Jerusalem, what did they actually lose in giving away their possessions? Nothing! By making good use of their worldly goods while they had them, they took advantage of the opportunity to be generous and demonstrate God’s love.

The destruction of Jerusalem may be a dramatic example, but doesn’t it demonstrate an important truth about everything that we possess? We never know how long will we will be able to hang onto our possessions. One way or another, we will lose all that we own, if not by bad fortune then ultimately by death. We would be wise not to waste these gifts, but to invest them wisely in charity and generosity:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. – Matthew 6:19-20

 

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

The psalm this week speaks of the mercy and saving power of God.

R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:

The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Questions:

• What main characteristic of God is spoken of in this psalm?
• How is this appropriate for today’s feast?
• How is Christ referred to in this psalm?

Commentary:

R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

The goodness and faithfulness of the Lord is to be praised.

Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”

The Lord’s enduring mercy is praised. The triple repetition is a common feature of psalms.

Three groups of people are told to say “His mercy endures forever”: “the House of Israel”, “the House of Aaron” and “those who fear the Lord”. I wonder, could this final group is a “prophetic hint”, pointing towards the inclusion of the Gentiles in the New Covenant?

I was hard pressed and was falling, but the LORD helped me. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just:

The Lord had mercy on His servant and was the source of strength and courage.

The “tents of the just” refers to the place where the just dwell.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let “us be glad and rejoice in it.

Christ is often referred to as the “stone which the builders rejected”. (Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7)

I wonder if “the day the Lord has made” may be another “prophetic hint”, pointing towards Resurrection Sunday, the “first day of the week” when the people of God assemble in thanksgiving…

 

Reading II: 1 John 5:1-6

This letter was probably written by St. John in Ephesus around AD 67.  Its chief subject is love; love of God and love of neighbour.

Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.

Questions:

• What does John say about those who believe that Jesus is the Christ?
• How do we know that we love the children of God?
• What is the love of God?
• Are God’s commandments burdensome? Why?
• What conquers the world?
• What does the final paragraph mean?
• How are faith and obedience related?

Commentary:

Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, …

Everyone who believes in Jesus is part of God’s family.

“Christ” is the Greek word for “Messiah”

…and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him.

Love of God leads to love of neighbour:

And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us – 1 John 3:23

…In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God…

The relationship works the the other way too!

…and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments.

St. Augustine explained it thus:

“The commandments of which John speaks are the two given by Jesus: Love God and love one another. Hold fast to this love and set your minds at rest. You need not be afraid of doing harm to anyone, for how can you harm the person you love? Love, and you cannot but do well.” – Saint Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 416), Homilies on the Epistle to the Parthians 10,7

If we love someone we do what pleases them:

“If you love me, keep my commands” – John 14:15

This love is a fulfillment on the Law:

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.  The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder…and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. – Romans 13:8-10

This primacy of love is found throughout the New Testament.

And his commandments are not burdensome, …

God’s commandments are not burdensome because we have been given the Holy Spirit to enable us to love.

…for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

I overcome the world when my sinful life is conquered, when the Holy Spirit enables me to be obedient to God. This takes place at our initial coming to faith and is repeated in our day-to-day living.

…Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Faith in Christ is our source of power.

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. 

I think this primarily refers to Christ’s baptism in the Jordan and and his “baptism” in blood (Luke 12:50) at the crucifixion. These events point towards the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist:

“The Son of God came not by water only, in order to cleanse us from our sins, but also with the blood of His passion, by which He consecrates the sacrament of our baptism, giving His blood for us, redeeming us by His suffering and nourishing us with His sacraments so that we might be made fit for salvation.” – Saint Bede the Venerable (ca. A.D. 710), On 1 John

John possibly wrote this section of his letter in response to the Proto-Gnostics. This heretical group asserted that the Christ descended onto the human Jesus at his baptism and left him before the crucifixion. Not so, says John: the Christ was both baptised and died on the cross.

The “water and blood” is also reminiscent of the pieced side of Christ:

Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water – John 19:34

…which, in turn, has associations with the Divine Mercy:

“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus, as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You” – Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.

The Spirit testified at Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:10) and the Spirit continues to testify through the Church today (John 14:16-17):

NOTE: There are two verses which sometimes appear at the end of this passage, known as the “Comma Johanneum”. It reads:

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one” – 1 John 5:7–8, KJV

This text is not found in early manuscripts. It is thought that these words were notes written in a margin (“gloss”) which was accidentally copied into later manuscripts. The Holy Office decreed in 1927 that Catholic scholarship is not bound to accept the text as part of this letter.

 

Gospel: John 20:19-31

Today’s Gospel is the famous account of “Doubting Thomas”. This is the high point of John’s narrative and reveals John’s purpose in writing his Gospel. John wishes for his readers to imitate Thomas, confessing Jesus Christ as “Lord and God”.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he 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.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Questions:

• Where are the disciples?
• Why are they hiding?
• On what day of the week does Jesus first appear? What is the significance of this?
• Why might Jesus have greeted his disciples with “Peace”? What might they have expected instead? Why?
• How did Jesus get into the room? What does this tell us about His body?
• What commandment and promise does Jesus give?
• Can you empathize with Thomas’ unbelief?
• On what day of the week does Jesus appear the second time?
• What does Jesus invite Thomas to do?
• Does the Bible contain everything Jesus said and did?
• Why does John say he wrote this Gospel?

Commentary:

On the evening of that first day of the week, …

The evening of Easter Sunday.

He came in the evening, because they would be the most afraid at that time – St. Bede

…when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, …

The disciples feared for their own lives after the death of their master.

The disciples, when they heard what Mary told them, were obliged either to disbelieve, or, if they believed, to grieve that He did not count them worthy to have the sight of Him. He did not let them however pass a whole day in such reflections, but in the midst of their longing trembling desires to see Him, presented Himself to them – St. John Chrysostom

…Jesus came and stood in their midst…

Jesus was able to pass through locked doors:

He waited till all were assembled: and with shut doors, that he might show how that in the very same way he had risen again, i.e. with the stone lying on the sepulcher – Theophyl

The shut door did not hinder the body, wherein Divinity resided. He could enter without open doors, who was as born without a violation of His mother’s virginity – St. Augustine

You ask “If He entered by the shut door, where is the nature of His body?” And I reply; If He walked on the sea, where is the weight of His body? The Lord did that as the Lord; and did He, after His resurrection, cease to be the Lord? – St. Augustine

…and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

The word used here is the Greek word “Eirene” and has the same sense as the Hebrew word “Shalom”. This greeting is somewhat surprising. All the disciples (with the partial exception of John) had abandoned Jesus during His passion. One might expect Him to initially rebuke them rather than offer “Peace”. It calls to mind the Prophet Daniel’s encounter with the “Son of Man”:

“Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”  When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.” – Daniel 10:19

This “Peace” which Jesus gives is something special, not being the kind of peace the world gives. It is intimately associated with His Passion and the Divine Life of the Trinity:

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – john 14:25-27

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, … – Galatians 5:22

It should also be remembered that in the Old Testament it was promised that the Messiah would establish lasting peace:

For to us a child is born,  to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6

This is why one of Jesus’ titles is “Prince of Peace”.

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

In Luke’s Gospel (which we will hear next week) we are told that they thought they were seeing a ghost (Luke 24:37):

Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have – Luke 24:39

He shows them “his hands and his side” so that they can see where the nails pieced His hands and where the spear opened His side (John 19:34). Jesus’ pieced feet are mentioned in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 24:40). These wounds show that Jesus had the same body as before, albeit glorified:

We may wonder how an incorruptible body could retain the marks of the nails. But it was done in condescension; in order that they might be sure that it was the very person Who was crucified – St. John Chrysostom

For the healing of doubting hearts, the marks of the wounds were still preserved. – St. Augustine

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

He is risen!

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

The Father sent the Son to reconcile the world to Himself and to forgive sin. The task is now taken up by Christ’s Bride, the Church:

 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

The Father sent the Son, appointed Him to the work of redemption. He says therefore, As My Father has sent Me, even so send I you; i.e. I love you, now that I send you to persecution, with the same love wherewith My Father loved Me, when He sent Me to My sufferings – St. Gregory

And when he had said this, he breathed on them…

This recalls the book of Genesis where God breathes life into His creation:

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God [breath of God] was hovering over the waters – Genesis 1:2

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being – Genesis 2:7

Now as Jesus breaths on His Apostles He breathes new life into them. This is also reminiscent of Ezekiel’s vision of the “Valley of Dry Bones:

Then [the Lord] said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” – Ezekiel 37:9

…and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit…

This is a prelude in anticipation of Pentecost, 50 days after the Passion (Acts 2:1-4), when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles.

That corporeal breath was not the substance of the Holy Ghost, but to show, by meet symbol, that the Holy Ghost proceeded not only from the Father, but the Son. For who would be so mad as to say, that it was one Spirit which He gave by breathing, and another which He sent after His ascension? – St. Augustine

But why is He first given too the disciples on earth, and afterwards sent from heaven? Because there are two commandments of love, to love God, and to love our neighbor. The spirit to love our neighbor is given on earth, the spirit to love God is given from heaven. As then love is one, and there are two commandments; so the Spirit is one, and there are two gifts of the Spirit. And the first is given by our Lord while yet upon earth, the second from heaven, because by the love of our neighbor we learn how to arrive at the love of God. – St. Gregory

Some say that by breathing He did not give them the Spirit, but made them meet to receive the Spirit. For if Daniel’s senses were so overpowered by the sight of the Angel, how would they have been overwhelmed in receiving that unutterable gift, if He had not first prepared them for it! It would not be wrong however to say that they received then the gift of a certain spiritual power, not to raise the dead and do miracles, but to remit sins: Whosoever sins you remit, they are remitted to them, and whosoever sins you retain, they are retained – St. John Chrysostom

“…Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

We recall that Jesus gave similar power to Peter:

 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 16:19

…and later to the rest of Apostles:

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. – Matthew 18:18

Jesus’ ministry is going to continue through His apostles and the Church. We find a particular expression of this in the Sacrament of the Sick and the Sacrament of Confession:

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. – James 5:14-15

How could mere men be able to do this?

The love of the Church, which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, remits the sins of those who partake of it; but retains the sins of those who do not. Where then He has said “Receive you the Holy Ghost” He instantly makes mention of the remission and retaining of sins. – St. Augustine

This is a great responsibility:

Lo, not only have they salvation for themselves, but are admitted to the powers of the supreme Judgment-seat; so that, in the place of God, they retain some men’s sins, and remit others. Their place in the Church, the Bishops now hold; who receive the authority to bind… Great the honor, but heavy the burden of the place. It is ill if one who knows not how to govern his own life, shall be judge of another’s. – St. Gregory

But what if the person wielding this power is sinful?

A priest though he may have ordered well his own life, yet, if he have not exercised proper vigilance over others, is sent to hell with the evil doers. Wherefore, knowing the greatness of their danger, pay them all respect, even though they be not men of notable goodness. For they who are in rule, should not be judged by those who are under them. And their incorrectness of life will not at all invalidate what they do by commission from God. For not only cannot a priest, but not even angel or archangel, do any thing of themselves; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost do all. The priest only furnishes the tongue, and the hand. For it were not just that the salvation of those who come to the Sacraments in faith, should be endangered by another’s wickedness. – St. John Chrysostom 

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, …

They are still called “The Twelve”, even without Judas.

Both Thomas (Hebrew) and Didymus (Greek) mean “twin”. It also possibly means “double” or “doubtful”.

…was not with them when Jesus came.

Why was Thomas absent? Is there a lesson for us in this?

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another” – Hebrews 10:25

St. Gregory sees in this event divine providence:

It was not an accident that that particular disciple was not present. The Divine mercy ordained that a doubting disciple should, by feeling in his Master the wounds of the flesh heal in us the wounds of unbelief. The unbelief of Thomas is more profitable to our faith, than the belief of the other disciples; for, the touch by which he is brought to believe, confirming our minds in belief, beyond all question – St. Gregory

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he 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.”

…and for this he will ever be known as “Doubting Thomas”.

Now a week later…

The Second Sunday of Easter i.e. this week

Consider the mercy of the Lord, how for the sake; of one soul, He exhibits His wounds… But He did not appear to him immediately, but waited till the eighth day, in order that the admonition being given in the presence of the disciples, might kindle in him greater desire, and strengthen his faith for the future. – St. John Chrysostom

All the post-Resurrection appearances take place on Sunday (“The Lord’s Day”). Likewise, Jesus comes to us every Sunday in the Eucharist.

…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.”

This is an exact repetition of the previous week’s events.

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.”

Jesus does not wait for Thomas to speak:

Jesus then comes Himself, and does not wait till Thomas interrogates Him. But to show that He heard what Thomas said to the disciples, He uses the same words – St. John Chrysostom

This is the only place in the Bible where it indicates clearly that Jesus was nailed, rather than tied, to the cross.

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” …

This is Thomas’ declaration of faith. He believed that Jesus was his Lord and his God. This confession of faith is the climax of John’s Gospel.

Thomas saw and touched the man, and confessed the God whom he neither saw nor touched. By means of the one he believed the other undoubtingly – St. Augustine

…he asserted the twofold nature and one Person of Christ; by saying “My Lord” the human nature by saying “My God” the divine, and by joining them both, confessed that one and the same Person was Lord and God. – Theophyl

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

An invitation to all those who come after the Apostles. This is us.

If any one then says, Would that I had lived in those times, and seen Christ doing miracles! let him reflect, Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed – St. John Chrysostom

We know Jesus through His Church as they “[bear] witness” to Him (see First Reading).

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book…

Sacred Scripture is not a complete catalogue of everything Jesus said and did. Such a compilation would be impossible.

John [related] less than the other Evangelists… Yet neither did the others relate all, but only what was sufficient for the purpose of convincing men – St. John Chrysostom

But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

The purpose of the Evangelist’s Gospel.