SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
23 APRIL 2017
Saint Peter’s profession of faith is very
upbeat. He speaks very convincingly of
the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its power to bring a profound peace and
joy. Peter knows this from his own
experience. Even though Peter had
promised that he would die with Jesus if necessary at the Last Supper, he sat
around the fire in the courtyard of the high priest’s house and denied knowing
Jesus three times. He had abandoned his mentor
and teacher who had named him the “rock” of the church. He was unable to make sense of the empty tomb
on the first day of the week. It was
only when the risen Lord broke through the locked doors did Peter experience
the peace of the risen Christ. It was
around the fire of the breakfast prepared for him by the risen Christ at the
Sea of Galilee that he truly understood the depths of the Lord’s mercy. The risen Christ asked him three times if he
loved him, not to rub salt in his wounds, but to demonstrate that he had truly
forgiven him. Instead of telling Peter
that he had “blown it” and that he would choose someone else to lead his
Church, he reaffirmed his choice.
Because of his incredible mercy, Peter had learned from the damage done
by his sins and became a better leader.
This is the mercy which we celebrate
on the last day of the Octave of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday). Those responsible for the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ had used their power to deal with a rabbi who had been a thorn in
their sides. In their guilt and grief,
the disciples of Jesus probably thought that the risen Christ would use that
same type of power to deal with them.
That is why they locked the doors of the place where they had
gathered. They more than likely expected
him to lecture them and berate them for their cowardice. Instead, Jesus walks right through those
locked doors on the first day of the week.
The one who had been present at the creation of the world creates a new
reality for them. He gives them the gift
of peace and breathes on them, giving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Only with the gift of the Holy Spirit will
they be able to break out of their locked hearts and extend the gift of peace
and mercy to others.
It is easy to be critical of Thomas,
whom we have named “doubting Thomas.” To
be honest, all the other disciples had been slow to believe in the miracle of
the resurrection. Thomas needed to
connect the deep wounds of the risen Christ with those deep wounds of guilt and
shame and grief which he carried. In
connecting those wounds on the body of the risen Christ with his own wounds, he
experiences the incredible mercy and peace of the risen Christ and makes the
most profound statement of faith in the Gospels: “My Lord and my God.”
We encounter that same risen Christ
at this Mass. We began this Mass by recalling
the gift of Baptism, which has washed away our sins and given us the depths of
God’s mercy. He has just spoken to us in
the Word, allowing us to listen to the teaching of those apostles who first
experienced the mercy of the risen Christ.
Listening to that Word, we can connect the gift of mercy with all the
times we have been forgiven. We will be
fed by his Body and Blood. In sharing
this Feast of the Lamb, we rededicate ourselves to being attentive to the
common good of our parish. The risen
Christ will send us out to be Christ’s Body in our world today.
Like Thomas, we all bear our share
of wounds, both as individuals, and as the collective body of Christ. Sometimes we fear that it is impossible to
extend the mercy of the risen Christ, especially when we have been hurt so many
times. We are part of a new reality
breathed on that first day of the week.
The Holy Spirit enlivens us to unlock the doors of our hearts. The Holy Spirit melts the icy hardness of
grudges and anger. Jesus is talking
about us when he tells Thomas that those who have not seen and believe are
blessed. We are truly blessed. We are sent from this Mass to share that
blessing.
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