Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. On this Second Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates the Feast of Divine Mercy. It is a feast that calls upon us to recognize the greatness of God’s merciful love in order to “take advantage” of it and enjoy to its fullness the life that God wishes upon us. Since this merciful love of God towards us was fully expressed in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (cf. Romans 5:8), it is only fitting that this feast be celebrated in the octave of the great Solemnity of the resurrection of our Lord. 
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is such an important event in the life of the Church since one cannot speak about the Church without referencing the resurrection ( “We are a people of the resurrection, and Alleluia is our song…” St. Augustine). Jesus’ rising from the dead was not only a vindication for Jesus and his disciples but also marked a turning point for the movement that came to be known as the Church. For when it had appeared that the powers of death and darkness had claimed victory, it was the news of Jesus’ resurrection that dispelled the gloom that had taken hold of the disciples even as it filled them with courage to witness to the teachings of their master. Moreover, it was only after the resurrected Jesus began to reveal himself to the disciples that they were moved to openly embrace their identity as partners with Jesus in his mission. The fact that Jesus had overcome death and was continuing to live, even if in a different mode, filled the disciples with courage and zeal to tell the story of the movement they had co-founded together with their master (the Church).
In today’s Gospel Reading, we hear about two of the several post-resurrection revelations of the risen Jesus to his disciples. Initially a source of fear and doubt, the appearances soon became an encouraging phenomenon to the disciples because it filled them with assurances that their master was still present to them. The appearances were indeed proof that Jesus was staying true to his promise of being with his followers till the end of time (cf. Matthew 28:20). In the first appearance, Jesus, after wishing the gathered disciples peace, breathes upon them the Holy Spirit even as he sent them on mission. It was the beginning of the fulfillment of a promise which Jesus had earlier made to his disciples (cf. John 16:4bff). It was of paramount importance that the disciples be gifted with the Holy Spirit  since their mission was going to be guided by the Holy Spirit. 
In the second appearance, we see Thomas being moved to confess the resurrected Jesus as Lord and God. After confirming that it was indeed the very Jesus he had seen die on the cross who was now standing in front of him – albeit with a new ability to pass through locked doors and walls – Thomas falls on his knees in adoration of Jesus. Thomas recognizes the transformation that has taken place in Jesus his master. He recognizes that the resurrected Jesus is not merely the master whom he had been accompanying. This Jesus who had allowed him (Thomas) to touch him was now a deity. After putting his hands on the side of Jesus, Thomas was enlightened to recognize that the body which he had been given a rare privilege to touch was not like his own. Having passed through death and emerged victorious, it had become a glorious body. Jesus, his master, was now a divine being worthy of adoration. The resurrection had turned him into a deity (God). It was an enlightening moment that led to Thomas’ personal transformation. He became a new being. He was transformed from a doubter to a believer in the resurrection. He overcame the powers of darkness and doubt that had taken hold of him and went ahead to proclaim it (the resurrection) to the ends of the earth. 
Like Thomas, the resurrection calls upon us to believe in the transformation that takes place when darkness is overcome. Like Thomas, our belief in the resurrection must ignite inside of us a desire to spread the good news of this transformation effected by the rising from the dead of Jesus. Like the disciples who were graced to see the resurrected Jesus, may our belief in the resurrection afford us new life that God has made available to us in Jesus Christ.