Second Sunday of Easter

Gospel – John 20:19-31

No Doubt, Seeing is Believing

Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended to him. They talked about so many things and a variety of subjects. Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said:  “Look man, I don’t believe that God exists as you say so.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the client. “Well, it’s easy, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God exists, there would be no suffering, nor pain. I can’t think of a God who permits all of these things.”

The client stopped for a moment but he didn’t want to respond so as to prevent an argument. The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barber shop, he saw a man in the street with long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his hair cut and he looked rather untidy). So the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber:  “Know what? Barbers do not exist.”  “How come they don’t exist?”-asked the barber. “Well I am here and I am a barber.”  “No!” the client exclaimed. “They don’t exist because, if they did. there would be no people with long hair and beards like that man who is walking in the street.”

“Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that some people do not come to us.”  “Exactly!”- affirmed the client. “That’s the point. God does exist. What happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him.  That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”

Faith!  Belief!  That’s what it’s all about and that’s what today’s Gospel is all about.  Thomas, Doubting Thomas, is not there when Jesus appears to the other disciples and he insists that he won’t believe unless he sees Jesus, sees His wounds and touches them, for himself.

I’ve always thought Thomas has gotten the short end of the stick.  I mean, the disciples are in a locked room; they have been hiding ever since Jesus was crucified.  They are in fear that the authorities will look for them, arrest them and have them killed.  And so they hide.  So for Thomas not to be there that first time meant he was out in the city, probably getting food or provisions for the group.  So what he lacks in faith, perhaps, is made up for with his courage to venture out into the city.

But don’t forget what has gone on before, in this week’s readings – Mary Magdalene brings them news from the tomb and they don’t believe!  The 2 disciples bring back news from Emmaus and they don’t believe!  Chances are that first appearance to them in the locked room happened with them all doubting what they are seeing as well.  Thomas is just 1 appearance behind them and he is merely voicing what they were all feeling at that first appearance.  Doubt!  Is this a ghost?  Am I really seeing Jesus?  Do I really believe?  Do I need to see to believe?

But consider how Jesus responds to Thomas’ doubts.  Not with anger or disappointment!  Not with harsh words or correction!  Instead He greets him with “Peace be with you.”  He calmly offers His hands and His feet to Thomas to touch!  He invites Thomas to change his doubt into faith!  Jesus responds, not with condemnation, but with love, with compassion and most importantly, with mercy!

We all have doubts, especially in these times!  We all wonder and question what’s going on.  Where is God in all of this?  We all need to be a bit like that barber’s customer.  Maybe I can’t see God Himself right now but I can see Him working through others in these difficult times.  I see Him in the man who checks up on his elderly neighbor to see if he needs any groceries.  I see Him in the grade school kids making cards and drawings for the seniors at the retirement home. 

I see Him in the family who face-time their out of town relatives a lot more often than before.  I see Him in the kids who use Zoom to play a game of Yahtzee with their friends.  I see Him in the daily outpouring of drive-by birthday celebrations for a little child.  God is not hidden, He is right here in front of us.  We only have to set aside our doubts and see with the eyes of faith

And so we celebrate today not just the Second Sunday of Easter but Divine Mercy Sunday.  A reminder that we are all, at times doubters, that we are all in need of mercy and forgiveness – if we recognize that God is always with us, if we only open our hearts, if we only respond, like Thomas – My Lord and My God!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

As Sr. Faustina wrote in her diary, Jesus said to her in one of His appearances: My child, life on earth is a struggle, a great struggle for my kingdom.  But fear not, because you are not alone.!