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Our joy continues in this
second week of Easter. This is the season of mystagogia, it is the
time when the newly baptized adults are given more detailed instructions
concerning the mysteries of the faith. The readings for the Sundays of
Easter reflect these mysteries of the faith also. In place of the
customary first readings taken from the Old Testament we find selections
from the Acts of the Apostles. These remind us of how the early Church
experienced the presence of the Risen Christ in the midst of their
community. The excerpt from First Letter of John reminds us that we
maintain our baptismal union with God by keeping his commandments in our
daily lives. Today's selection from the John's gospel relates the story
of Jesus' Easter Sunday manifestation to his apostles.
The first thing that Jesus said to them was, "Peace be with you!" He was
not concerned about fights within the apostolic community. He offered
them his peace because of their fear. They had locked the doors of the
place where they were for fear of the Jews. So there would be no doubt
as to who He was, He showed them his hands and his side.
Then He breathed on his disciples and gave them the promised gift of the
Holy Spirit for the first time. He charged them with the responsibility
and power to forgive
sins. Like all new Christians the first disciples had a lot to learn
about the mysteries of life in the Risen Lord. Fear needs to be replaced
with trust in the power and mercy of the Christ at work in the Church.
Then and now it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to bring home the
meaning of Jesus' teachings.
It also takes the support of the community. Thomas was absent from the
apostolic community when Jesus first appeared to them. He just could not
accept the claims of his brother apostles, much less that of the women,
regarding the Lord's return from the dead. It was not until the
following Sunday night when Jesus visited a second time that Thomas came
to recognize the Risen Lord with the rest of the apostolic community.
While Jesus accepted Thomas' act of faith, "My Lord and my God!" He
responded with greater praise for those who would learn to recognize and
believe in Him through the testimony of other communities of faith.
We belong to this latter group. Though we have not seen, we have
believed on the testimony of eye witnesses like John and the other
evangelists, and men and women in our own lives who have known and loved
the Lord. With them, and the bishops, the modern day successors of the
apostles, we experience the Risen Lord in our midst and so proclaim the
kingdom of God to a whole new age. ALLELUIA!!
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