Wednesday Gospel Webinar Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Sunday 23rd April 2017 2nd Sunday of Easter John 20:19-31 In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came in stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’

Sunday 23rd April 2017 2nd Sunday of Easter John 20:19-31 Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

Literal meaning Where? John 20 / the upper room / the doors closed When? The first day of the week after his death, in the evening What? Jesus appears to his apostles twice Who? Jesus, apostles How? Jesus gives his peace, his mission, his Spirit and shows his wounds Why? The Apostles are to continue his mission of life and reconciliation

THE RESURRECTION Historical Event Believed through witnesses Impacts every human person Source of life and hope Source of peace and joy Beginning of greater things to come

In Jesus Christ, Human nature rises to new life forever Finding God In Jesus Christ, Human nature rises to new life forever

Finding the human person Faith in Jesus Christ, dead and risen: the most fundamental decision we can make in life.

Finding the Church The mission of the Church: To give witness to the Resurrection To offer God’s mercy and life to the world Through the Holy Spirit.

Mary, Virgin and Mother, you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the word of life in the depths of your humble faith: as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own “yes” to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.   Mother of the living Gospel, wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia.

Acknowledgments Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti www.centroaletti.com Scripture: The CTS New Catholic Bible, Copyright © 2007 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society With gratitude to the Wednesday Word www.wednesdayword.org