Today’s Thoughts: In our Gospel today, John offers us three diverse, yet united encounters. First, Jesus appears to the frightened apostles, minus Thomas. He offers them peace, then invites them to take on his mission, a mission he received from his Father, and then breathed upon their fears and confusion the gift of the Holy Spirit sending them forth with the mercy of God to offer the forgiveness.
Next it is now a week later, Jesus appears to the same group of apostles, this time including Thomas. As we have learned from the time in between the two visits by Jesus, Thomas, needs to see signs and wonders. So, Jesus invites him to see and touch the signs and wonders of his Passion and believe. Thomas’ simple respond is, “My Lord and my God!” Perhaps in other words, “I believe.” Jesus then asks Thomas to not depend on signs and wonders anymore but to have faith, to see differently. Good old Thomas is such a good friend to us and so are the apostles gathered together in fear and separated by their individual shame at having abandoned their teacher, friend and Lord. They are living our doubts, our fears, our shames, and our desires to see just a little bit more so that our faith will be strengthened. It seems that God knows us better than we know ourselves. A little bit more would always be just a little bit more of what we would want. Thomas wanted to see more than what he had heard his companions had seen. Jesus reminds Thomas, the others and us that seeing is not believing, but rather believing is a way of seeing beyond what can blind us. Finally, at the end of today’s Gospel, John tells us that he has written enough for us to believe without seeing. Yes, there were other signs and wonders after the Resurrection, but these which have been recorded are offered so that all who read and all who pray with them might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and through faith, they will have true life in his name. Our first two readings from the Acts of the Apostles and the First Letter of Peter also offer us some food for thought. In the first reading we get a glimpse of the early Church, a Spirit filled community of faith. We might say an extraordinary community of faith. A community devoted to the Spirit of the Risen Lord. However, we know that over time this community was not able to maintain this extraordinary spirit. The reality of life and perhaps even of doubt entered the living of life. But through our first reading we are reminded what can be. In the First Letter from Peter, we are reminded of the great mercy of God, the Divine Mercy of God given to us through our risen Lord. Peter tells his community and us, that because of God’s Divine Merch we rejoice, although at times we struggle with through various trials and difficulties so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although we have not seen him we love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, we rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, Peter reminds how we are to live as people of faith! With this gift of merch and faith we are to see beyond, which in itself is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and it leads to us being sent out beyond ourselves as well. We are sent, as the Holy Spirit was sent to us, to attract others to Christ by how we live. Using St. Paul’s words, our scriptures today remind us how we are to live – by faith and not by sight which becomes a grace filled challenge in this “I need to see to believe world.” If we walk by faith and not by sight, then we will make the world around us uncomfortable. If we try to live by faith and not by sight, we can become a sign and wonder to the world of God’s wonderful and awesome mercy and love. Our struggles to live faith filled, hope filled, and loving lives by going out, being sent, is the miracle of our times. By our life of faith, we become reminders that there is a beyond and what we see is the creative mercy and love of God. As reminders we give new life to this creative mercy and love. Easter is our time for walking by faith, for going out beyond ourselves to bring God’s mercy to the world. Have a holy and blessed Second Sunday of Easter everyone and may you truly be blessed with God’s Divine Mercy this day and always. May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Fr. Paul R. Fagan, C.P. "Preacher on the Run"Just a few thoughts to help you on your journey through life...let me know from time to time what you think... Archives
April 2024
Categories |