April 19, 2020 Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday
2020년 4월 19일 부활 제2주일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
사도행전. 2,42-47
형제들은 42 사도들의 가르침을 받고 친교를 이루며
빵을 떼어 나누고 기도하는 일에 전념하였다.
43 그리고 사도들을 통하여 많은 이적과 표징이 일어나므로
사람들은 저마다 두려움에 사로잡혔다.
44 신자들은 모두 함께 지내며 모든 것을 공동으로 소유하였다.
45 그리고 재산과 재물을 팔아
모든 사람에게 저마다 필요한 대로 나누어 주곤 하였다.
46 그들은 날마다 한마음으로 성전에 열심히 모이고
이 집 저 집에서 빵을 떼어 나누었으며,
즐겁고 순박한 마음으로 음식을 함께 먹고,
47 하느님을 찬미하며 온 백성에게서 호감을 얻었다.
주님께서는 날마다 그들의 모임에 구원받을 이들을 보태어 주셨다.
제2독서
베드로 1서. 1,3-9
3 우리 주 예수 그리스도의 아버지 하느님께서 찬미받으시기를 빕니다.
하느님께서는 당신의 크신 자비로 우리를 새로 태어나게 하시어,
죽은 이들 가운데에서 다시 살아나신 예수 그리스도의 부활로
우리에게 생생한 희망을 주셨고, 4 또한 썩지 않고 더러워지지 않고
시들지 않는 상속 재산을 얻게 하셨습니다.
이 상속 재산은 여러분을 위하여 하늘에 보존되어 있습니다.
5 여러분은 마지막 때에 나타날 준비가 되어 있는 구원을 얻도록,
여러분의 믿음을 통하여 하느님의 힘으로 보호를 받고 있습니다.
6 그러니 즐거워하십시오.
여러분이 지금 얼마 동안은
갖가지 시련을 겪으며 슬퍼하지 않을 수 없습니다.
7 그러나 그것은 불로 단련을 받고도
결국 없어지고 마는 금보다 훨씬 값진 여러분의 믿음의 순수성이
예수 그리스도께서 나타나실 때에 밝혀져,
여러분이 찬양과 영광과 영예를 얻게 하려는 것입니다.
8 여러분은 그리스도를 본 일이 없지만 그분을 사랑합니다.
여러분은 지금 그분을 보지 못하면서도 그분을 믿기에,
이루 말할 수 없는 영광스러운 기쁨 속에서 즐거워하고 있습니다.
9 여러분의 믿음의 목적인 영혼의 구원을 얻을 것이기 때문입니다.
복음
요한. 20,19-31
19 그날 곧 주간 첫날 저녁이 되자,
제자들은 유다인들이 두려워 문을 모두 잠가 놓고 있었다.
그런데 예수님께서 오시어 가운데에 서시며,
“평화가 너희와 함께!” 하고 그들에게 말씀하셨다.
20 이렇게 말씀하시고 나서 당신의 두 손과 옆구리를 그들에게 보여 주셨다.
제자들은 주님을 뵙고 기뻐하였다.
21 예수님께서 다시 그들에게 이르셨다.
“평화가 너희와 함께! 아버지께서 나를 보내신 것처럼 나도 너희를 보낸다.”
22 이렇게 이르시고 나서 그들에게 숨을 불어넣으며 말씀하셨다.
“성령을 받아라.
23 너희가 누구의 죄든지 용서해 주면 그가 용서를 받을 것이고,
그대로 두면 그대로 남아 있을 것이다.”
24 열두 제자 가운데 하나로서 ‘쌍둥이’라고 불리는 토마스는
예수님께서 오셨을 때에 그들과 함께 있지 않았다.
25 그래서 다른 제자들이 그에게 “우리는 주님을 뵈었소.” 하고 말하였다.
그러나 토마스는 그들에게, “나는 그분의 손에 있는 못 자국을 직접 보고
그 못 자국에 내 손가락을 넣어 보고 또 그분 옆구리에 내 손을 넣어 보지 않고는
결코 믿지 못하겠소.” 하고 말하였다.
26 여드레 뒤에 제자들이 다시 집 안에 모여 있었는데 토마스도 그들과 함께 있었다.
문이 다 잠겨 있었는데도 예수님께서 오시어 가운데에 서시며,
“평화가 너희와 함께!” 하고 말씀하셨다.
27 그러고 나서 토마스에게 이르셨다.
“네 손가락을 여기 대 보고 내 손을 보아라.
네 손을 뻗어 내 옆구리에 넣어 보아라. 그리고 의심을 버리고 믿어라.”
28 토마스가 예수님께 대답하였다. “저의 주님, 저의 하느님!”
29 그러자 예수님께서 토마스에게 말씀하셨다.
“너는 나를 보고서야 믿느냐? 보지 않고도 믿는 사람은 행복하다.”
30 예수님께서는 이 책에 기록되지 않은 다른 많은 표징도
제자들 앞에서 일으키셨다.
31 이것들을 기록한 목적은 예수님께서 메시아시며
하느님의 아드님이심을 여러분이 믿고,
또 그렇게 믿어서 그분의 이름으로 생명을 얻게 하려는 것이다.
April 19, 2020
Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Reading 1
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone,
and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their property and possessions
and divide them among all according to each one’s need.
Every day they devoted themselves
to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
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 you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Gospel
n the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
http://evangeli.net/gospel/tomorrow
«Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven»
Fr. Joan Ant. MATEO i García
(La Fuliola, Lleida, Spain)
Today, 2nd Sunday of Easter, we complete the octave of this liturgical time, one of the two octaves —along with that of Christmas— that have remained out of the renewal made by the Vatican Council II. During eight days we contemplate the same mystery and we try to go deeper into it by the light of the Holy Spirit.
Pope John Paul II decided to call this Sunday Divine Mercy Sunday. It is something that goes far beyond a particular devotion. In his encyclical Dives in Misericordia, the Holy Father explains that Divine Mercy is the ultimate manifestation of God's love in a history injured by sin. In Latin “Misericordia” (which means “mercy”) comes from two words: “Miseria” (misery) and “cor” (heart). Our own despicable situation due to sin is placed by God in Jesus' loving heart, that is faithful to His Father's designs. Jesus Christ, dead and resurrected, is the supreme manifestation and acting of the Divine Mercy. «For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son» (Jn 3:16) and has sent him to die to save us. «To redeem the slave He has sacrificed the Son», we have proclaimed in the Easter Proclamation of the Easter Vigil. And, once resurrected, He has constituted him into a source of salvation for all those who believe in Him. By faith and conversion we receive the treasure of his Divine Mercy.
Holy Mother Church, who wants her children to live the resurrected life, commands that —at least for Easter— we receive Holy Communion and we do it in the grace of God. The fifty days following Easter is the right time for us to fulfill the Paschal Precept. It is time to practice the sacrament of confession and benefit from the power of forgiving sins the Lord resurrected has conferred to His Church. As he said to the Apostles: «Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven» (Jn 20,22-23). We shall thus go to the source of Divine Mercy. And we should not doubt either to bring our friends to these sources of life, to the Eucharist and to Penance. Jesus resurrected expects us to.
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Divine Mercy
The gospel of John was written several decades after the 3 synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke. In the synoptic gospels we hear stories, parables, journeys and events in the life of Jesus. These gospels paint a portrait of a wandering “prophet” who performs miracles, heals the sick, consoles the weak and poor, comforts the lost and lonely and raises the dead. He himself rose from the dead. He welcomes all to his friendship and faithfulness. He attracts and befriends all - including women, children, strangers and refugees. And he is claimed by his Father, “This is my beloved Son…” As we follow Jesus, we come to know him in a personal and intimate way. We experience his kindness, faithfulness, joys, tears and sorrows not only to his friends and strangers, but to us personally.
John’s gospel is different. John begins not with the infant Jesus, but with Jesus as the “Word” of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…” John’s gospel is one of “signs” of the divinity of Jesus the Christ. John’s gospel testifies to the divinity of Jesus. In John’s gospel we hear many questions. Maybe the most recognized is Jesus asking Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Throughout the gospel John points to signs that testify to the divinity of Jesus. In this gospel we hear of Thomas’ struggle to believe that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead. Thomas was not rejoicing, he was doubting. “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hand and put my fingers into the nailmarks and put my hand in his side, I will not believe.” It was not until Thomas was invited to do just that. ”My Lord and my God.” Like Thomas do I believe only what I personally experience? Do I not trust the word of someone else’s experience of the presence of God?
For over three weeks, we, here in the US, have been experiencing a devastating virus – the COVID-19, coronavirus. Others around the world have been experiencing it for months. We knew it was a dreadful disease, but for most of us, it was far off. Many of us gave it little thought and attention until it was on our doorstep. Still many continue to deny the dangers of it. The suffering and death that many continue to experience here in our own cities, towns and neighborhoods is overwhelming. There is fear, panic, greed, hoarding, violence and death. Many have died and many more will die. Where is this God of ours? Where is our risen Christ?
“My son, my spouse, my mother died and I couldn’t even be there to comfort them. Where are You?” What would Jesus answer to our pleading, our doubting? “Come and see for yourselves…”. “I am here with the doctors, nurses, first responders, hospital chaplains offering comfort to the sick and dying and strength, encouragement, perseverance, the Breath of the Spirit. Look for Me – I am here in the unemployment lines, in the grocery stores delivering food, in the food banks feeding the sick and hungry. I am here – look where you walk…. I am the laughing children bringing a respite of joy in their colorful sidewalk chalk drawings. Flowers and hopscotch! I am the tweeting teenagers planting smiley face helium balloons in neighbors’ yards. Let me put my fingers into your sorrow, join my tears and my joy and smiles with yours.” You plead “Where are you, Jesus?” “I am with you through it all.” “My mercy endures forever.”
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
the difference a week makes?
"A week later, the disciples were once more in the room, and this time Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors, Jesus came." —John 20:26
The octave of the first Easter was disappointing and uneventful for the apostles. on the evening of the day of Jesus' Resurrection, Jesus sent His apostles to proclaim His Gospel (Jn 20:21), but eight days later they were still paralyzed by fear and behind locked doors (see Jn 20:26). You can see why Thomas, not present a week earlier, did not believe that Jesus was risen from the dead. However, the Lord had mercy on the apostles after they were unfaithful to Him so many times. He came to them once again and was even willing to subject Himself to Thomas prodding His wounds (Jn 20:27).
Possibly the octave of Easter has been disappointing for you also. You may have even sinned against the risen Lord. You may be concealing Jesus' Resurrection more than revealing it. Nevertheless, Jesus comes to you once again with rays of mercy coming from His wounded heart.
Jesus gives us mercy primarily by commanding us to "receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22) and receive a new Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of truth" (Jn 16:13). He will make us true to the Lord and not unfaithful. The Holy Spirit will produce the fruit of love in us (Gal 5:22), and we will stop our sinful rejection of the Lord and our disobedience to Him. By Jesus' mercy and the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be witnesses for the risen Christ and truly celebrate Easter. "Lord, have mercy. Come, Holy Spirit!"
Prayer: Father, make Divine Mercy Sunday one of the most important days of my life because of my love for You.
Promise: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' instruction and the communal life." —Acts 2:42
Praise: God "saved us; not because of any righteous deeds we had done, but because of His mercy" (see Ti 3:5).
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
"Unless I see - I will not believe"
Do you know the joy of the resurrection? The Risen Lord Jesus revealed the glory of his resurrection to his disciples gradually and over a period of time. Even after the apostles saw the empty tomb and heard the reports of Jesus' appearance to the women, they were still weak in faith and fearful of being arrested by the Jewish authorities. When Jesus appeared to them he offered proofs of his resurrection by showing them the wounds of his passion, his pierced hands and side. He calmed their fears and brought them peace, the peace which reconciles sinners and makes us friends of God.
Live and proclaim the Gospel of mercy in the power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus did something which only love and trust can do. He commissioned his weak and timid apostles to bring the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This sending out of the disciples is parallel to the sending out of Jesus by his heavenly Father. Jesus fulfilled his mission through his perfect love and obedience to the will of his Father. He called his first disciples and he now calls each one of us to do the same. Just as he gave his first disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit, so he breathes on each of us the same Holy Spirit who equips us with new life, power, joy, and courage to live each day as followers of the Risen Lord.
The last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. The apostle Thomas was a natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after receiving news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). While Thomas deeply loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion and crucifixion. After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of trial and adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he doubted his own fellow apostles.
Through the gift of faith we recognize the Risen Lord and receive new life
When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God! Through the gift of faith we, too, proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in the good news of the Gospel and in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring you new life, hope, and joy?
"Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of sin and darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection."
Psalm 118:1-4, 13-15, 23-24
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures for ever."
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15 Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
A Daily Quote for the early church fathers: Touching the Flesh, He Invokes the Word, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"But when Jesus showed Thomas the very places where he had his doubts, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God." He touched his flesh, he proclaimed his divinity. What did he touch? The body of Christ. Was the body of Christ the divinity of Christ? The divinity of Christ was the Word; the humanity of Christ was soul and flesh. Thomas could not touch the soul, but he could perceive it, because the body that had been dead was moving about alive. But that Word is subject neither to change nor to contact, it neither regresses nor progresses, neither fails nor flourishes, because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That is what Thomas proclaimed. He touched the flesh, he invoked the Word, because the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (excerpt from Sermon 145A)
http://www.homilies.net/
2 Easter
Second Sunday of Easter - A Cycle - John 20:19-31
The Emperor Caesar Augustus gave a citizen a magnificent jewel. The man said, "This is too much for me to accept. Caesar said, "Perhaps, but it is not too much for me to give."
Last Sunday, the Lord signaled the apostles that though they had deserted Him on Good Friday, He forgave them. Today He faxes Thomas the message He forgives him for his disbelief in the Resurrection despite reliable eyewitnesses. Put these points in your mental computer. They are important for all of us.
Jesus' followers continued to meet after Easter in the Upper Room of Last Supper fame. Since it was owned by a friend, the price was right. And good thing too. The apostles were broke. Weekly church envelopes and second collections had not yet been invented.
Check it out that John is anxious for us to know that it was the first day of the week. If you play Sherlock Holmes, you will discover that "the first day of the week" is mentioned in the New Testament a remarkable seven times. These Christ followers wanted us to understand that Sunday had already become the Lord's Day. So, our gathering at Sunday Liturgy as a Jesus community is no accident. We have taken our cue from the apostles.
The disciples were sitting about relaxing and exchanging gossip. Perhaps they had finished celebrating the Eucharist. Their Easter dinner would be bargain Chinese take-out. Suddenly the resurrected Lord bursts into their company. Surely several of them fell off their chairs. one or two others must have clutched their hearts and put a Nitro pill under their tongue.
His "Peace be with you!" had much more punch than our limp "Have a nice day." A free translation would mean, "May God give you every wonderful good!" When you consider Jesus is divine, the apostles had to feel good all over immediately.
Thomas alone had expected the assassination of Jesus from day one. Recall the time the Christ proposed leaving His mountain hideout and going to a town where the cops were looking for Him. Eleven of the apostles ran scared and asked politely for a raincheck. Thomas alone shamed them all for being yellow by saying, "Let us all go that we may die with Him." Thomas was courageous, but he was a pessimist. The bottom line was doom and gloom.
His faith told him it would be better to die with Jesus than live without Him. His unbelief told him that once Christ died, He would remain a rotting corpse like Thomas himself.
Belief and doubt have the nasty habit of co-existing uncomfortably in our selves. If that be your secret problem, lighten up. Thomas is your main man.
When Jesus appeared Easter Sunday, Thomas was absent. Perhaps he was out looking for a job or applying for unemployment insurance or getting drunk. When his fellow apostles reported they had seen the risen Lord, he assumed they were smoking funny cigarettes or drinking cheap red wine or both.
Thomas did not say he could not believe but rather that he was not able to believe without physical proof. Sorry, but you were not the first to say, "I believe only what I see."
Thomas made one serious mistake. He missed the Eucharist on Easter Sunday. Learn from him and never miss any Sunday Liturgy.
Jesus oftentimes sends an e-mail just for you at these occasions.
Thomas of record was the last person on the block to believe in the Resurrection. But run up all the flags, for he was the first to profess absolute belief in the divinity of the risen Saviour. The cry "My Lord and my God" that came out of his gut still shouts out. It is the most celebrated two second sound bite in history and a wonderful prayer to boot.
Thomas began that second Easter Sunday by touching Jesus as friend. But, when he pulled back his hand from the wet wounds, he realized he was in touch with God Himself. Thomas was blown away by the experience. He would never be the same again.
We owe Thomas big time. His doubt is a further proof to us that the risen Christ is as physical as we are right now.
All of God's closest friends - Moses, David, Abraham, Job, Thomas, etc - had doubts. They voiced them publicly. Expressing doubts is often the next level of intimacy with God. (Rick Warren)
Easter Sunday the Master forgave the apostles for running out on Him Good Friday. Today He absolves Thomas for his disbelief. He gave them all a second chance. Do you believe the resurrected Jesus will not also give you a second chance?
Forgiveness for your sins through confession may be too much for you to receive, but it is not too much for Christ to give.
Frjoeshomilies.net
2 Easter
Second Sunday of Easter: When Doubts Come....
The Sunday after Easter always presents the Gospel of Doubting Thomas. The reasoning is that the events in today's gospel take place one week after the Lord rose from the dead. A deeper reason, though, is that our belief in the Resurrection is based on our faith. We have faith that Jesus fulfilled the Scriptural prophecies that the Suffering Servant would be raised up. We have faith that He fulfilled his own prophecies that he would suffer, die and on the third day rise up. We have faith in those who witnessed His resurrection and testified to it: Peter and the other ten, Mary Magdalene and the women who had been at the tomb and many other disciples like those on the road to Emmaus, who proclaimed that they had seen the Lord. In 1 Corinthian 15 St. Paul writes that one time Jesus appeared to over 500 disciples.
However, faith is always going to be met with doubts. This is part of the human condition. Everyone suffers times, often just fleeting moments, when he or she has doubts about the existence of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the Eucharist or other teachings of the Church. Here is something you might find shocking: even the Pope has doubts. He has doubts because he is a human being. We will not be free from all doubts until we see God face to face in eternity. I love the story of the man with whose son was suffering from some form of what we would call epilepsy. You find this in The Gospel of Mark 9:15-29. Jesus came upon quite a scene, a lot of noise and yelling. People all gathered, seeming to be upset over something or other. So Jesus asked, "What's going on. A man who was there said, "Sir, my son suffers from a spirit that seizes him, throws him down, causes him to foam from the mouth and roll around." Jesus asked, "How long has this been happening?" "Since childhood," the man responded. Then he added, "Sometimes he is thrown into the water or into a fire." Then the man said, "Sir if you can do anything, please help him." Jesus replied, "If I can. Everything is possible for someone who has faith. Then the boy's father shouted out, "I do believe, Lord. Help those parts of me that don't believe." With that the Lord healed the boy. "Help those parts of me that don't believe." That is our prayer too when we realize how little our faith is at times.
We have many challenges to our faith. one challenge is the thought that somehow our minds can come to a knowledge beyond their capabilities. We start to consider a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, or the Divinity and Humanity of Christ, or why Christ died for us. In a world where we can always go to Google for an answer to our questions, we find it difficult to realize that some answers can only be provided by God. We find it hard to realize that our minds can be limited.
It takes a tremendous amount of humility to have faith. Having faith demands that we recognize that we do not have all the answers to the questions of life. Some answers can only be given to us through faith. If we are too proud to believe, then we limit ourselves to that which we can comprehend with our finite minds.
There is a wonderful story about the great Catholic intellectual, theologian and philosopher, St. Augustine. Augustine was walking on the beach in North Africa trying to come to an understanding of the Trinity, one God in three persons but only one God. So Augustine was walking along when he came upon a little boy doing what children have been doing at the beach for ages. The child had dug a hole in the sand and had a little bucket. He would run down to the water and fill his bucket with water, then run back and dump the water into the hole. He kept doing this over and over. Meanwhile St. Augustine was considering the Trinity, "How can there be one God, but the Father is God, the Son is God and the Spirit is God." Finally, Augustine noticed the little boy, and said to him, "Hey, little boy. What do you think you are doing?" The little boy said, "I'm emptying all the water in the ocean into this hole." Augustine laughed and said, "You can't do that." The child responded, "It is easier for me to empty all the water in the world into this hole than it is for you to fill your mind with an understanding of the mysteries of God." Rotten kid. He was probably an angel or something.
When people say to us, "How can you explain this?" the answer we should give is, "This is a mystery given to us by God which is beyond our mind's capability." To deny that there could be something out there, anything, greater than our understanding, is to deny ourselves the things the Lord wishes to reveal to us through faith.
When I was a Teen and beyond, I often got into periods of doubt about this that or the other thing. Finally, somewhere in high school I remember saying to myself, "Self, (I'm on a first name basis with myself) Self, what the Church teaches, believe. Make life simple and stop trying to figure everything out."
Another area of doubt comes not through intellectual reasons, but through physical challenges. A person becomes seriously ill. The doctor tells him or her that this might last for months, or years, or be a condition that might last a lifetime. A loved one dies. A young person dies. It is quite normal for us to ask, "Where were you God when I, when we, were going through this?" God's answer is that He is with us holding us up, helping us get through and even grow stronger in our faith when it is challenged. Many times people will get through a crisis and then feel horrible that they doubted God, or even His existence. God sees the pain the person is suffering. He is crying with us, just as Jesus cried at the tomb of Lazarus. He tells us to use our challenges to draw closer to Him. We can, and we do.
Another time doubt enters into our lives is when someone is attacking us for our faith. Usually they are anti-Catholic bigots, although they would never consider themselves by that name. But people will routinely come up to us and say things like, "You Catholics don't read the Bible." or "You worship Mary" or some other absurdity we all know is false. After a while that wears down on us. Peer pressure takes over and we start thinking that there is something wrong with us if we are not seeing things like everybody else. That is when we really need to shore up our faith and say to others and even to ourselves, "I respect the beliefs of others and simply ask them to respect my belief."
Sometimes people whom we respect subtly attack our faith by treating us as though we were simple minded. We may have a coach whom we really respect, or a professor whose classes we love, or someone whose intelligence we admire tell us that to him or her faith is for little children. Remember that some of the most brilliant people in the world, some of the greatest coaches also, are people of faith. Think about Coach K, Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke basketball team. He is an ardent and active Catholic. In science, you may have studied about the brilliant physicist and noble prizewinner, Marie Curie. She won two noble prizes in physics. She was also a determined woman of faith. My point is that intellectual brilliance has nothing to do with faith. Many extremely intelligent people are people of faith. Some brilliant people might be too proud to have faith.
The most common way that doubts enter into our lives is when we start departing from living a Christian life. Sometimes people in high school or in college get involved with drugs and choose substance abuse, or get involved with another person, start having sex, and then they think that maybe their faith is wrong. We cannot separate our faith from our actions. Listen to this carefully: If we stop behaving like a Christian we will soon stop believing like a Christian. Oh, we might say we still believe, but in reality we are just giving lip service to our faith. Many times people just say that they stopped believing; when actually what they stopped doing was living the Christian life.
Jesus looked at Thomas and said, "Do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas then said, "My Lord and My God." Then Jesus said something extremely important for us all to remember, he said, "You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen and believe."
Jesus was talking about us. He was considering all of us gathered right here and throughout the world, throughout history, and saying "Bless you, my friends for believing." Think of it, the Lord sees us in a greater light than his disciples. They saw and believed. We have not seen, but we do believe.
So when doubts come, whether due to others or circumstances, or due to things welling up inside us, we need to say, "Lord, I do believe. Help those parts of me that don't believe." We need to trust that the Lord who promised to give us all good things, will give us faith.
Stmaryvalleybloom.org
* Available in Spanish - see Spanish Homilies
2 Easter
Let Go of Your Anger
(April 19, 2020)
I offer this homily (and take off my hat) to any brothers who are celebrating Mass or live streaming during this crisis
Bottom line: Forgiveness is the vital step to faith. Examining the evidence and asking God's grace, we want to be like Thomas: to say to Jesus, "My Lord and my God."
on Easter Sunday I addressed a word to those who doubt Jesus' resurrection. I understand the doubt. We are, after all, making a huge claim. It's not just about the truth of an historical event - that a man the Romans cruelly put to death rose bodily from the grave. No, we are saying much more. Jesus' resurrection is not only true, it is the truth about everything. Because of the resurrection Jesus is the center of human history, the center of the universe and, whether we know it or not, the resurrection means that Jesus is the central person in your life and mine.
If you doubt Jesus' resurrection, you do have good company. We hear today that the Apostle Thomas doubted. He wanted to see the evidence. That's a good, scientific mindset. We should want to examine the evidence. I mentioned last Sunday that the Church sets aside 50 days to explore the evidence. From Easter until Pentecost, May 31, we hear biblical readings about different aspects of Jesus' resurrection. And I mentioned a helpful book: The Case for Jesus by Dr. Brant Pitre - the biblical and historical evidence for Christ.
I am personally convinced there is strong case for Christ. Thomas of course received powerful proof - an appearance of Jesus and the offer to touch the wounds. Even so, it did require an act of faith.
That's my main point today: We need evidence, but we need something more - divine grace. Let me explain.
As we see in today's Gospel the prerequisite for faith is forgiveness. That's why the first thing Jesus says to the disciples is "Peace be with you." Then he breathes the Holy Spirit on them and says, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them..." This refers to the power Jesus gave the Apostles and their successors to absolve sins in his name.
It also indicates our need for forgiveness. We see this during our pandemic. I'll speak from the point of view of those ordered to shelter in place. For some it was an opportunity to deepen family bonds, for others not so much. Some used this time for intellectual and spiritual growth. At the same time liquor and marijuana have had huge sales. And traffic for porn sites has soared.
I'll let each person examine his conscience on how he is using his time. But there's one area we all need to look at: what we see in Thomas - his reaction of anger. Instead of saying, "wow, tell me more", he says "Unless I see...I will not believe." All of us can understand his resentment when the others told about Jesus' appearance and he was left out.
Now, anger is a natural emotion and it has a good purpose: to motivate us to do something about an injustice. That's good, but anger can quickly become misdirected. St. Paul says, "Don't let the sun go down and your anger." (Eph. 4:26)
Anger can fester and destroy a person. Anger often harms the people closest to us. I've heard people express anger at Trump, the news media or even the bishops. I've experienced some of that anger myself.
I remember once expressing frustration to Archbishop Brunett (may he rest in peace). Rather than argue with me, the archbishop said, "Phil, you have to focus on what's right in front of you." You know, I can't solve the problems of the world and the church. I can, however, make a difference that will matter to someone. When you think about it, the whole purpose of politics is to make possible small acts - like being a parent or a pastor. Again, St. Paul "pray for...all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." The emperors, such as Nero, had enormous power. To this day you can read books about the emperors. Still it's St. Paul who tells us the important things going in the Empire - things that really last.
You and I can become angry because others treat us as insignificant, "non-essential" as our rulers say. Still, even though you and I are little people we are significant and essential.
What I'm saying is use your anger, but then let it go. You have important, essential things to do. Ask God forgiveness for your failures and make a new beginning. Then forgive the failures of others. Today we celebrate Divine Mercy - a perfect moment to open yourself to mercy and to show mercy to others. Forgiveness is the vital step to faith. Examining the evidence and asking God's grace, we want to be like Thomas: to say to Jesus, "My Lord and my God." And kneeling before the Eucharist we will say "my Lord and my God." Amen.
Alexmcallister.co.uk
2 Easter
Very often you see pictures of St Thomas touching the wound in Christ's side but in actual fact the Gospel does not record this event. Christ certainly showed him his wounds but it is never mentioned that Thomas reached out his hand to actually touch them.
Interestingly, apart from this incident, Thomas is portrayed in the Gospels as being very brave. In the account of the raising of Lazarus that we heard on the last Sunday of Lent when Jesus gets the message of Lazarus' illness and he decides to go up to Jerusalem we find Thomas saying, 'Let us go too and die with him.'
These are not the words of a timid and fearful man; a man beset by doubts. And yet when the other Apostles tell him of their meeting with the Risen Lord, which for some unknown reason he had missed, Thomas flatly refuses to believe them.
What Thomas had missed out on was an encounter with the Risen Christ. And, no matter what the other Apostles said, he refused to believe. He wasn't open to persuasion or reasoning. And I think we have to say, 'Rightly so!' After all, faith does not come from reasoning or from what anyone else tells us. Faith is a gift of God and it principally comes though an encounter with the Lord.
In Thomas' case this was the actual presence of the Risen Jesus who showed him the wounds of his crucifixion. For St Paul it was his Damascus experience. In every case, let me suggest, faith comes through an encounter with the Lord. Mostly these are not physical encounters like that of Thomas, but they are just as real nonetheless.
Each one of us comes to faith by a different route. Things happen to us on life's journey that help us to see the hand of God at work in our lives. As a child we might be brought up by our parents to believe in God and we grow up accustomed to pray each day. In this way prayer becomes a natural and even essential part of our lives.
But this is not merely the saying of prayers. What our parents have initiated us into is a dialogue with the Lord—with a person, with God himself. Each time we pray we are entering into an encounter with God. At some point or other the young person faces the criticism of others and they question where this is a real dialogue or whether they are just talking to themselves.
If their prayers are more than merely superficial then they may well come to the realisation that this is no empty dialogue but a real and meaningful conversation with the Lord. And through this insight their faith is strengthened and moves to a new and deeper level.
As life goes on our faith is validated by all sorts of events and occurrences. I clearly remember talking to a group of secondary school pupils. We were discussing prayer and I asked them if they ever felt that their prayers were answered. one girl said that together with her whole family she had prayed very hard for her grandmother who had cancer. She explained that although they had prayed for a cure the grandmother actually got worse and eventually died. Nevertheless, she felt that her prayers had been answered because her grandmother had died peacefully and was happy to go to God. It was also clear that her own faith had been strengthened by this and that she felt closer to God and to her family as a result.
Thomas said that he wanted proof. He said that unless he could put his hand in the wounds he would not believe. But when Christ appeared to him that was enough, he never reached his hand out to touch the wounds. Instead he fell to the ground with the great words 'My Lord and my God' on his lips. Throughout his life Thomas never lacked courage. Tradition has it that he preached the Gospel in many different countries ultimately travelling as far as India where he was martyred. Together with Jesus he set out on the road to Jerusalem saying to his fellow Apostles, 'Let us go too, and die with him.' Well, he certainly got his wish even if he had to wait a few years for it!
His faith was surely tested more in that final moment of his death than it ever was before. But in the end he remained resolute. His words to Jesus, 'My Lord and my God' or something very like them were surely on his lips as he gave up his spirit.
Thomas had the extraordinary privilege of knowing Jesus in the flesh and also of meeting him in his risen form. But the greatest encounter of all was at the moment of his own martyrdom when he was drawn into the presence of God in heaven.
It is this final and ultimate encounter that we are preparing for. And the best preparation of all is for us to open our eyes and see the hand of God in our lives and for us to spend time in prayer and dialogue with him, but most of all by sharing his body and blood in the Eucharist.
It is in these ways that our faith is fed and strengthened. It is by doing these things that at that final moment, with God's grace, we will make that great and wonderful prayer of Thomas our own.
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