Second Sunday of Easter
Think about this for a moment. Just before Jesus finally breathed his last what if his nails came loose, his wounds were healed and a triumphant Jesus stood in the midst of all his oppressors and crucifiers? God could still claim that Christ endured suffering for us up until the very end and Christ’s suffering could have still atonement for sin. Or, what if Christ, after his resurrection, first appeared to Pilate, then to Herod, then to the chief priests and the elders and then to all the Roman soldiers? I think that world history would have been written very differently if that were the case. Why did Jesus only appear to his disciples and few friends after his resurrection?
Two thousand years have passed and very few people claimed to have seen the risen Christ. None of us present for worship today have seen the risen Christ. And yet here we are gathered together in the name of the risen Christ. What is the value of believing without seeing?
a) The question of human freedom. Christ could have come down from the cross and appeared to his enemies and the general public. For that matter, Christ could come today and stand here in our midst. The question that rises then is, ‘What does that do to the freedom the God has given us?’ From the very beginning of creation, God gave us the freedom to freely choose to love, honor and worship God. God continues to honor that freedom of choice.
I have asked myself what would happen if at one of my masses the bread would suddenly become the risen Christ. For one, it would be great for me. There are all chances that I would be declared a saint, every mass I said would be packed and I would be on every news channel in the world. This parish too would be known world-wide. In spite of the benefits, this is not what I wish. Without being arrogant or self-sufficient, I’d rather wait to see Christ in eternity. For now, I want to believe not because I am compelled by the physical presence of Christ but because I freely chose to believe without seeing. Love is better when it is free. Worship is dearer when it comes from within. God is dearer when it demands faith. I wonder if that is how you feel as well but I want to thank God for continuing to honor the freedom God gave us.
b) The possibility of faith. In the gospel reading we have the episode of Thomas not being present at the resurrection appearance of Jesus. Knowing what he does about Jesus’ crucifixion and burial and then hearing about the resurrection, he clearly has a choice to make. A that moment when he heard that Jesus is risen without himself seeing the risen Jesus, faith becomes a possibility for him. But he does not believe. Thomas only believes after his has seen Jesus. Jesus’ response to Thomas is the real point I am trying to make. “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” The disciples were eye witnesses to the risen Jesus. But Jesus is saying that even more blessed are those who have not seen but can believe in faith. In other words, faith becomes a possibility for those who have not seen Jesus. If at every Eucharist, Jesus appeared on the altar, then we would not need faith, would we?
Why do we need faith? Because faith is operative not only in things divine but also when it comes to our relationship with one another. Marriage is an expression of faith. Bringing children into the world and raising them up is an act of faith. Aging gracefully is an act of faith. Each day we arise and get out of bed is an act of faith. Until we get to eternity and can see and believe, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
c) The growth of the community. There is another reason why Jesus only appeared to a few disciples and friends. The community and not Jesus becomes the primary witness of the risen Christ. Today’s first reading tells us that great signs and wonders were seen in the community of believers because of their faith in the risen Jesus. People esteemed the community and even though there was fear of joining them, great numbers were added to the community. The good news of the resurrection of Christ rested in the hands of the community.
Today’s gospel reading has a great insight for us. Jesus gives the community of disciples the authority to forgive sins. “Just as the Father sent me so I send you,” Jesus said. The community of disciples must now be a reconciling community. This community must now be what Christ was to the world. This emphasis on the community gives Christian community a new sense of challenge, responsibility and privilege. Our parish vision says that we strive to think, talk and act like Jesus. This is our challenge, responsibility and privilege. The fate of Christianity in this neighborhood rests in the hands of this community.
As the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Jesus, we will still see bread and wine. Let us freely believe that this bread and wine is the risen Jesus. Let us have the faith to do so. And let us then be a community that bears witness to the risen Christ. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph