Second Sunday of Easter, Sunday of Divine Mercy
(Fr. Satish is recuperating from surgery. This homily was written three years ago for the Second Sunday of Easter. This homily is as relevant now as it was then).
Easter is over! Many of us who gave up things for Lent are now perhaps enjoying these things again. I wonder, what did that first bite of chocolate, that first sip of coffee, that first gulp of beer, the fresh feel of game console feel like. PersonalIy, I consider the weeks after Lent to be the most dangerous time for Christians. Suddenly, the spiritual discipline that we got used to during Lent gets forgotten; prayer becomes more lax, and we get back to our old ways again. After Christ is risen and it is time to sit back and enjoy life again.
If today’s readings are any indication, the situation of the early Christian communities was significantly different. The fear of the disciples, the doubt and disbelief of people like Thomas, the various trials that Peter refers to in the second reading, perhaps kept the community on their toes. Today, I wish to focus not as much on the resurrection appearances of Jesus in the gospel reading but on the situation of the early Christians in the post-resurrection period that we hear in second reading from the first letter of Peter. And then I would like to apply that to us today.
The first letter of Peter was written about 60-63 AD. This means that it was written a good thirty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. The issues associated with the timing of this letter are many. First, it was the common belief among early Christians that Christ would return very soon after his ascension and Pentecost. But reality soon set in that things were not going as anticipated. Perhaps there was even some disillusionment among people. Second, Christians faced complete osctracization from Roman society. They excluded themselves from pagan worship, employment In the Roman offices that demanded Emperor Worship, and most social affairs because of the fear of compromising their Christian practices. Perhaps, they were also afraid to be noticed as Christians for fear of persecution. As we can probably imagine, life was very hard for them. Many of them suffered intolerably as they patiently waited for Christ to come and end the power of evil over them once and for all.
Peter’s letter, from which today’s second reading is taken, was written to the people under Roman rule in reference their intense suffering. He offers comfort and encouragement to them. First, he says, that because Christ suffered, we should expect to suffer too. Second, he says that suffering purifies our faith and makes it more genuine (1 Pet 1:7). Third, he says that when we suffer we are united with all the world’s people who are suffering (1 Pet 5:9). And finally, he says that no matter how great our suffering is, we should be hopeful, because witnessing to hope in times of suffering would cause their persecutors to be ashamed of themselves and repent. The bottom line, according to Peter is that we cannot avoid suffering, but when we follow in the footsteps of Jesus we can make our suffering something good.
Let me suggest three practical implications for the Easter season.
- What is “Peace?” Jesus appeared twice in today’s gospel reading and thrice he said to the disciples, “Peace be with you.” What does peace mean to the disciples in time of fear disbelief and suffering? In fact, it seems to me that in the situation they were in they would have anything but peace? Is that not our experience as well? What does peace mean when a tornado has uprooted and destroyed lives in the hundreds? What does peace mean when the basement is flooded? What does peace mean when one cannot find a job and the house is on the market? What does peace mean when a son or daughter is in juvenile detention? Peter’s answer to these questions would be: Do not expect not to suffer but unite your suffering with that of Jesus who continues to be with us just as he was in the room with the fear-filled disciples. Faith in Christ does not make life any easier but it does make our suffering meaningful. With God amidst us we can make our suffering purposeful. Peace, then, comes from knowing that God is with us; that God knows our fears, understands our predicaments, and sympathizes with our anxiety. Peace comes from the knowledge that the presence of the Christ who endured suffering is among us.
- The Role of Community. One of the aspects that we overlook today is the significance of the community and communal living in the early church. The first reading from the Act tells us, “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.” In the gospel reading, Christ encountered the disciples not individually but rather as a community. Then he breathed the Holy Spirit upon them and sent them to bring forgiveness, peace and healing to the whole world. Peter encouraged his suffering community to find unity not just in the suffering of Christ but also in one another’s suffering. In this way they could find strength and be strength for each other. In other words, in the early Christian church, the community was where faith was best lived. The danger today is that we come to the church with our sufferings, our fears, our disbelief alone and we leave alone. Christ is asking us to get connected. If you do not have a need, there is someone else whose need will only be met by you. Christ sends you that person. In this post-Easter season, it is not enough sit back and enjoy the things we gave up for Lent. It is time to take Christ to this fear-filled and suffering world.
- Believing after seeing and believing without seeing. So there were people who got to see Jesus after his resurrection and those who did not. Today’s gospel reading talks about Thomas’ predicament. He wanted to see Jesus. Amidst his fear, his love for Jesus which he confesses later, and his anxiety, he so badly wanted to see Jesus. For me, the important thing is not that Jesus appeared to him, but rather for me, I want Thomas’ desire for God. His longing for God, his thirst for God’s presence, his wanting to touch and experience Jesus, his love for God is what I want. This is what I call prayer. One day our prayer will be answered. One day, we will see God face to face. Till then, I want to be like Thomas, longing for God. Thomas gives the right sentiments we must have in the post-resurrection time.
As we long to see God face to face, we encounter another reality – that of Christ in our presence in the bread and the wine. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed,” Jesus said to his disciples. In this bread and wine, we do not see Christ as Christ is, but blesses are we if we can believe Christ is with us in this Eucharist. Amidst our fears, our sufferings and our disbelief, may we confess like Thomas, “My Lord and my God.” Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph