2nd Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

Gospel – John 20:19-31

Easter Egg Hunt

 

We were supposed to have our annual Easter Egg Hunt after Mass last Sunday.  Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate!  Rain most of the morning!  And even though the rain ended just as Mass started, the ground was too wet for the little ones to go searching!  A lot of disappointed kids!  But it’s back on schedule today!  And we expect a crowd of kids eagerly hunting for those Easter eggs.

In the spirit of that child-like celebration, I am holding a plastic Easte egg in my hand.  Hidden inside is a crisp $5 dollar bill!  Do you believe me???  Do you trust what I said?  Do you think I’m lying?  Or perhaps do you need to see it for yourself?   Believe it when I see it??? Is that your motto?

Faith!  Belief!  Doubt!  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 corrections!  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!

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! 

We all have doubts, especially in these times of political fights and economic troubles, of global unrest and military actions!  We all wonder and question what’s going on.  Where is God in all of this?  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.!                                                                                                                                                                                                                Maybe I can’t see God Himself right now, but I can see Him working through others in these difficult times.  Maybe I can see Him in the angels He sends among us!

I see Him in the man who pays for the prescriptions for a woman whose credit card was declined at the pharmacy. I see him in the driver who lets you merge into his lane without blasting his horn or adding a few rude hand gestures!  I see him at every store where the cashier ends the transaction with a sincere ‘have a blessed day’. I see Him in the daughter who sits with us in the emergency room!  The daughter who offers her love and medical expertise as we face an unexpected illness and surgery!   

And maybe it’s in the simple childlike wonder and joy of opening an Easter egg and finding that treasure inside!!  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

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