Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday

Today's Mass Readings

I was deeply moved by with Jana Bennett’s reflection she wrote for www.itemissaest.org. She wrote, “Sometimes I think it is very difficult to comprehend, let alone believe, that Jesus rose from the dead. Death for us is something final. It is something that we have to deal with and confront because we cannot undo time and make someone come back. That finality makes it quite hard to see that perhaps death does not always win – that God’s Son rose from the dead.” Jana is so right. Our normal experience is that death happens, that no one can extend life, and that dead people do not normally rise to life. Not only is death more real than risen life. So are our fears, our anxieties, our pains, our brokenness, our ruptured relationships, our sins, our helplessness and even our moments of godlessness. Today’s readings focus on two things. First they focus on the post-resurrection Jesus. Second, they focus on the post-resurrection disciples. There are two radically different kinds of disciples. I want to talk about both of these. The disciples in the gospel reading have not changed any since the death of Jesus. Among them is Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter, James and John the ones vying for power and the rest of them who in fear ran away when Jesus was arrested. Even now, they have all locked themselves up in a room for fear of the authorities. To this fearful community, to this broken community, to this unfaithful community Jesus gives three gifts.

First of all, he gives to them the gift of his presence. He had said even before he died, “Where two or three of you gather in my name, I will be there” (Mt 18:20). And now he fulfils that promise. Even as they gather, even if it was for fear of the Jews, Jesus stands in their midst. Second, Jesus gives them the gift of his peace. Thrice in today’s reading he says to them “Peace be with you” (Jn 20: 19, 21, 26). Peace for them comes when Christ comes into their fears, their anxiety, their sin, and their brokenness. Suddenly, for them, God looks more real than their limitations. This brings them peace. Third, Jesus gives to them the gift of his Spirit. He breathes on the disciples like God breathed into Adam and Eve at creation. If at creation the first human beings received life, at the resurrection the disciples receive new life. They will now participate in the very mission of Jesus. He said to them, “Just as the father sent me I send you” (Jn 20:21).

The community we encounter in the Acts of the Apostles is radically different. I am suggesting that it was the presence of God, the peace of God and the Spirit of God that transformed them from who they were to being believers one in heart and mind (Acts 4:32). From power mongering disciples they were transformed into selfless followers. Acts tells us that they sold all they had and shared their belongings. From being fearful disciples they became fearless missionaries. There were no more denials, no more betrayals, no more reeling under the power of sin, and no more doubts. Charged with the power of the risen Jesus they took the message of hope and life to all the world.

My dear friends, I want to think of us as the community to which Christ comes as the risen Lord. I find three parallels between the reading and our lives today. These are also the three practical implications.

1) There is one reason I love the Christian story. I love it because it is a story that does not deny the human condition. In this story fear is real, sin is real, suffering, and death are real. And today, we are compelled to acknowledge our own fears, denial, godlessness, sin and pain. Today or tomorrow we will die. Today or tomorrow we will sin. Today or tomorrow we will confront godlessness. Today or tomorrow we will suffer and experience pain. I love the Christian story because within the reality of human fears, sin and suffering God meets us. Today, in this Eucharist, Christ will come to us as really as he came to the disciples. Jesus gives us his peace. Now you may ask me, “How can I know that same peace?” Peace, my dear friends, comes when he begin to believe that God is more real than all our fears, sins, and pain put together. There is a possibility that we doubt like Thomas. But I hope we can like the others who allowed the presence, peace and the Holy Spirit to take over their own fears, sins, and doubts.

2) There is nothing more refreshing for the church than to have its individual members charged with the power of the risen Lord. For too many people religion, faith, worship or prayer is one more thing they “do” each week or every day. Christ is need of people whose entire lives – their work, leisure, energy, and resources – revolve around Christ. Christ needs people who in the face of fear and insecurity are confident; in the face of sin they are conquering; in the face of difficulties they are filled with faith; in the face of sickness they are strong; when challenged they are ready to face them in the power of Jesus. All this can happen only if each individual person allows Christ to come to the very core of their existence in the most radical way. It is time to take the resurrection of Christ and live in the power of the Spirit. I hope we will do this in the coming days.

3) If there is one thing that the church needs today, it is the unity of the early Christian community. I am very intrigued that in today’s resurrection appearance, Jesus exposed his wounds as he wished them peace. Sometimes we are too quick to wound rather than expose our wound. We are fearful of exposing our wounds because we look weak. Yet from the wounds of Jesus came peace, unity, and reconciliation. The divisions in the Church – between conservative and liberal, Democrat and Republican, those who think of themselves as saints and those whom they consider sinners, between laity and church authority, between races, cultures and peoples – are disillusioning. For far too many people their political party, their sports team, their country, their ideology is more important than Christ. Christ does not come to us as a Democrat or a Republican, black or white, man or woman, lay or clergy, American or Indian. He comes to us as Christ, wounded and vulnerable – to heal, to unite, to love and to bring us all to salvation. We must allow the Spirit to make us one in heart and mind.

Let us admit today that just like the Christians of the early times we have fears, anxieties, sins and brokenness. But let us also believe that in the Eucharist Jesus gives us his presence, his peace and his Spirit. Let us ask Jesus to give us again the gifts that he gave to the early Christian community. May our lives be on fire and may Jesus help us to become like the Church of the Acts. Amen.

- Fr. Satish Joseph