Ep. 183 - The Eighth Day: Locked Doors, Living Wounds, and Divine Mercy
Mass Readings for April 12, 2026
It’s Eastertide in Jerusalem, and the apostles are locked away—until the risen Christ suddenly stands in their midst, wounds and all, proclaiming “Peace be with you.” We’ll step into the upper room, unravel the mystery of Jesus’s glorified body, and discover why his wounds remain vital trophies of victory. Our journey winds through the spiritual wisdom of Father Jacques Philippe and the Old Testament echoes that come alive in this scene of mercy and reconciliation. Join us as we uncover the meaning of Divine Mercy Sunday and Jesus’s radical invitation to peace, trust, and new creation.
In this episode, we'll explore:
Why every day in the Easter Octave is celebrated as a solemnity and how that's like a Catholic "Groundhog Day" [00:00:47]
The surprising connection between Sunday, the story of creation, and the octave of Easter, including how the eighth day symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ's resurrection [00:11:21]
How Jesus’s resurrected body is profoundly different from Lazarus’s—able to pass through locked doors and free of burial cloths—revealing theology behind the glorified body [00:19:16]
Why Jesus’s greeting of "peace be with you" is far more than a polite hello, and how He infuses the apostles with an efficacious peace that heals their spiritual failures [00:21:02]
What Father Jacques Philippe teaches about reflecting God in our souls, and why picking yourself up quickly after a fall—not never failing—is the true mark of spiritual progress [00:26:30]
The hidden significance of Jesus showing his wounds, with insights from St. Thomas Aquinas and the reason why crucifixes matter in our homes today [00:36:39]
When and why, according to this passage, Jesus institutes the sacrament of confession—giving the apostles power to forgive sins and linking it all the way back to God breathing life into Adam [00:40:06]
The fascinating debate about whether Jesus’s words to Thomas are a question or a statement, and what that means for our own faith and blessedness when trusting in His Divine Mercy [00:49:06]
References
“Jesus rose from the dead “on the first day of the week.” Because it is the “first day,” the day of Christ’s Resurrection recalls the first creation. Because it is the “eighth day” following the sabbath,105 it symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ’s Resurrection. For Christians it has become the first of all days, the first of all feasts, the Lord’s Day—Sunday.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church par. 2174)
Genesis 2:7 - “The LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Ezekiel 37:9-10 - “Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the spirit came into them, and they lived”
“For Bede says on Luke 24:40 that He kept His scars not from inability to heal them, but to wear them as an everlasting trophy of His victory.” (Aquinas, STh., III q.54 a.4 resp.)
"The wounds on Jesus’s resurrected body reveal that he is forever fixed in the act of love in which he died.” (Martin 340)
“Consider the surface of a lake, above which the sun is shining. If the surface of the lake is peaceful and tranquil, the sun will be reflected in this lake; and the more peaceful the lake, the more perfectly will it be reflected. If, on the contrary, the surface of the lake is agitated, undulating, then the image of the sun can not be reflected in it. It is a little bit like this with regard to our soul in relationship to God. The more our soul is peaceful and tranquil, the more God is reflected in it, the more His image expresses itself in us, the more His grace acts through us.” (Philippe 5)
“The sign of spiritual progress is not so much never falling as it is being able to lift oneself up quickly after one falls.” (Philippe 64)
Bibliography
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012.
Martin, Francis, and William M. Wright IV. The Gospel of John. Edited by Peter S. Williamson and Mary Healy. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015.
Philippe, Jacques. Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart. New York: Society Of St. Paul, 2002.
Discussion Questions
How does Katie connect the concept of the Easter Octave to the theme of Divine Mercy, and what significance does the "eighth day" hold in the liturgical calendar?
In what ways does the Gospel passage John 20:19–31 emphasize the gift of peace, and how does the episode explain its deeper significance for the disciples?
Reflect on Katie's description of Jesus' resurrected, glorified body. How are its characteristics contrasted with Lazarus’s resurrected body, and why is this important?
The episode outlines the Old Testament resonances in Jesus “breathing” on the apostles. What is the importance of these parallels to creation (Genesis 2 and Ezekiel 37)?
How does the institution of the Sacrament of Confession in this Gospel passage reveal God's "condescension" and tangible mercy?
The episode discusses why Jesus retained his wounds after the Resurrection. What theological and spiritual lessons are drawn from this, and how do they relate to the Christian life?
In the discussion of peace, Katie highlights insights from Fr. Jacques Philippe’s book. What role does inner peace play in spiritual growth, especially after failure?
How does the encounter of the disciples with the resurrected Christ parallel the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis?
Why is Thomas’s doubt and subsequent confession significant for believers, and how can we interpret Jesus’ blessing of "those who have not seen and have believed"?
Throughout the episode, Katie returns to the phrase "Jesus, I trust in You" as central to Divine Mercy. What practical steps or attitudes are suggested for cultivating this trust and peace in everyday life?