The Eighth Day is freedom ~reflex on John 20:19-31
Every year, I am in awe that we prepare for Easter with 40 days of penitence, and then celebrate Christ’s Resurrection for 50 days! Every day of the Octave of Easter (from Easter through Divine Mercy Sunday) is one long Easter Sunday, liturgically speaking; a week-long day of rejoicing, encompassing the “first day of the week” (the day of Christ’s resurrection) and the “eighth day” of the week (the following Sunday). This “eighth day” after the Sabbath is the new “first day”, the symbol of the new creation Christ has set in motion.
The eighth day as a sign of holiness and freedom is seen in Scripture, particularly in the Book of Leviticus. On this day, children were circumcised, becoming purified and receiving the seal of the covenant (Lev 12:2-3). Animals were ceremonially unclean before their eighth day, and could not be sacrificed before then (Lev 22:27). All people who were unclean for any reason remained so until the eighth day, when they were accounted clean (Lev 14:8-10; 15:13-14). Even the vessels for ministry and the priests went through seven days of purification, and were “clean” on the eighth day.
The Gospel tells us that Jesus rose on “the first day of the week,” which is the same as the “eighth day.” The Jewish people hold Saturday, the seventh day, as a day of rest and worship, because God rested on the seventh day of creation. But Christians acknowledge that Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary fulfilled every Levitical oblation and sacrifice, and the resurrection on the “eighth day” points to the NEW creation and the final fulfillment of all creation. In the early Church, the baptismal font was often octagonal, to symbolize that through this font that we become a new creation in Christ!
On Divine Mercy Sunday, we see Jesus putting Thomas’ doubts to rest by revealing his wounds, through which he poured out mercy on the world. It is through these wounds that Jesus gave us the incredible gifts of cleansing and forgiveness and renewal, and here he gives his disciples the authority to forgive in the sacrament of Penance. In Jesus’ many words and actions and miracles, he proved that Love overcomes every sin and shortcoming. On this “eighth day” of Easter, we glimpse the whole point and hear anew the call to fulfillment of all creation: the final victory over every uncleanness and sinfulness, and our final, glorious rest at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, celebrating the definitive conquering of death on the mystical eighth day of creation in eternity.
In the Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, Jesus reveals his desire that this day be “a refuge and shelter for all souls… On that day, the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy.” So, let us joyfully approach that Fount by going to Confession and receiving Him in Communion to welcome the Gift of His healing love!