Mary Sullivan

They were gathered in the evening.  It was the first day of the week.

And some things may have looked, somewhat less than bleak.

The doors were locked.  Of the Jews, the disciples were in fear.

They were fearing that the Jews would quite soon draw near.

Then Jesus came abruptly. He stood within their midst.

This must have been a sight to see, and not a sight to miss.

He spoke to them, bringing peace.  He said, “Peace be with You.”

He showed the wounds in His hands, the hole in His side too.

The disciples were rejoicing then! This was so very good.

Their Lord had been put to death, but before them He now stood.

Jesus came to bring peace, and to say something new:

“As the Father has sent me….”  I am now sending You.

He breathed on them, and called out the Holy Spirit’s name.

Telling them to forgive sins, and by them sins could be retained.

Now Thomas wasn’t there, when the Lord appeared before,

When the fearful disciples were behind their locked doors.

They told Thomas what they’d seen and heard.  Perhaps said this with a joyful shout.

But Thomas said he’d not believe. Thomas could only doubt.

Thomas demanded a few things, in order to believe.

His faith was somewhat lacking.  He could not the truth receive.

His finger must go in the wounds on His hands, which nails had opened wide.

And he must put his finger into the Lord’s wounded side.

One week later, the disciples gathered, and again the door was locked.

When Jesus would come back to them, again without a knock.

As before He just appeared, there within their midst.

Wanting all to believe, desiring none resist.

Christ had come once more proclaiming: “Peace be with You.”

What would doubting Thomas say?  What would Thomas do?

Jesus invited Thomas to come close and see His hands.

And put his hand into His side; that he might understand.

Our Lord exhorted Thomas: “Do not be unbelieving but believe,”

The Lord Himself cannot deceive, nor can He be deceived.

With that Thomas did believe, Christ had rose from the dead.

He gave answer to the Master.  “My Lord and My God” is what he said.

The faith of Thomas had been wanting, and this was not ignored.

For there is a faith-filled, more blessed way, of walking with the Lord.

Did Thomas believe because he’d seen?  This is what Jesus asked.

Those are blessed who had not seen, yet to belief held fast.

Lord Jesus, as we cower, in our worry and our fear,

Help us to know the truth that You are very near.

You brought peace to the disciples.  Bring peace to us today.

Give meaning to our faith, that from faith we’ll not fall away.

Give to us believing hearts, the gift of faithful intercession

Grant forgiveness of our sins as we go to confession.

We cannot see the path ahead, know not where it will lead.

Let us walk by faith in You.  Lord, help us to believe.

And give this faith to loved ones who left and lost their way.

Give the truth to loved ones lost in worldly sin today.

Go to them now dear Jesus.  In their midst dear Lord appear.

Let them know of Your deep love for them, that You are always near.

Let them see the nail marks, to each one, open Your hands wide.

Help them put their fingers in the wound within Your side.

Open their eyes Jesus.  We pray on bended knees.

Jesus help our loved ones, to at last believe.

(John 20:19-31)

Do not abandon yourself to despair.  We are an Easter people, and hallelujah is our song.

Pope John Paul II

Christ is alive!  This truth we believe.

His love we can now freely receive.

He has come with the promise of new life for each one.

Hallelujah’s the song which we sing and have sung.

Dear Father, we beg You for more of Your grace,

That in strength we persist, in running this race.

In Your mercy, grant loved ones, wisdom anew.

Give to them new life, found only in You.

Give to them strength; and give to them hope.

Give to them patience, and graces to cope.

A new joy and peace, grant each son and daughter.

Give to all fresh springs of living water.

Help us to flee, from all doubt, all despair.

Merciful Father, please hear and answer our Easter prayer.

Nailed upon the cross, badly beaten and blood-soaked.

He had no words of anger. Words of love alone He spoke.

Of those who had betrayed Him, jeered at, and mocked Him too—

Father, He said forgive them.  For they know not what they do.

With steadfast love for others, thieves on His right and left,

Hanging there beside Him, in pain and in distress.

Willing only good for souls, that repentant souls be freed,

He assured the good thief: This day in paradise, you will be with Me.

Relentless was the torture, when His eyes looked down and saw,

John, and His loving mother, the mother He adored.

He spoke to John: Behold your Mother.  To Mary: Behold Your Son.

His mother now our mother, that well this race we might run.

Questioning the Father, as He hung before the crowd:

…why hast Thou abandoned me? This, He cried out loud.

Jesus knew His crucifixion, was for Him a choice,

He wanted us to know, when abandoned—when we have no voice,

That He understands.  Abandonment He faced.

That we might in our own agony, cling to our cross in haste.

Jesus, with love for others, still serving others first,

While on that cross, He let us know that for souls: I thirst.

Jesus gave us truth, did only the Father’s will.

With knowledge that His work was done, His purpose fulfilled,

It is finished He said, as on the cross He hung.

His death deemed the path by which heaven would be won.

Surrendered to the Father, at His ending agony:
My Spirit I command, into the hands of Thee.

With that He breathed His last, His last and final breath.

And still today He thinks of us with love and tenderness.

Let us imitate our Savior, seek to serve others first.

When on the cross of life we hang, for souls may we thirst.

When we are abandoned, to our crosses may we cling.

Let us imitate our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and King.

From our misery in life, from our agony and fears,

From lament and sorrow, from this valley of tears,

There comes a resurrection, and a wellspring of hope,

Lifting the burden of the cross; making easy the yoke.

By our crosses we are strengthened.  Though by them, we are tried.

As furnace-tested iron, as gold tested by fire.
Our cross united to His cross; and lifted high anew.

A new day now dawns upon us.  Resurrected, we are too.

At Christ’s brutal crucifixion, as He breathed His final breath,

Love and truth were crucified.  Both, we put to death.

Christ’s triumph over death, leads us to hope and pray,

We too will triumph over death to a new life one day.

On hurting hearts there still descends, as if a gentle dove,

The last words which Jesus spoke to us—His words of Divine love.

by Mary Anne Moresco

“For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is seen is eternal.”  (2 Cor. 4:17-18)

Dear Father in heaven, stay beside us from the start.

Help us to ever persevere and never lose heart.

Our outer self is fading.  It is wasting away.

But the nature of our inner self is renewed each passing day.

This affliction seems so heavy.  But in truth it is light.

In a moment it will pass from us—and be gone from our sight.

Affliction has a purpose.  For us it does prepare

An eternal weight of glory, beyond all compare.

May we see more than what is seen by human eyes.

For what we see with human eyes will soon find its demise.

Let’s look to what is unseen.  For angelic sight may we yearn.

All eternal unseen things may we no longer spurn.

Fill us, Father, with Your truth.  For truth eternal may we strive.

Fill our souls with faith.  Let Your will direct our lives.

Fill our hearts with love of You.  Help us now to cope.

Help our minds to trust in You.   In You, we place our hope.