April 27, 2014 & 2 Sunday of Easter Are We Not All ...

April 27, 2014 & 2nd Sunday of Easter
Are We Not All Doubting Thomas’ -- Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9 & John 20:19-31

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.

1 Peter 1:3-9. 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.

John 20:19-31. On 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.

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor
any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the
copyright owner.

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April 27, 2014 & 2nd Sunday of Easter
Are We Not All Doubting Thomas’ -- Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9 & John 20:19-31

Don’t know about you, but it already seems to me as if Easter happened

about a month ago. Week before last, some of us were here every evening, singing

psalms, washing feet, venerating the cross with big lumps in our throats. Then on
Sunday, we celebrated Christ’s liberation from the tomb of death and entrance into

eternal life. Approaching it with some of the same awe and fear as those who first

discovered it, we did what they taught us to do in the presence of new life: we
renewed our baptismal vows, exchanged God’s own peace, and shared a simple

meal of bread and wine.

Then, for most of us, it was back to business as usual: back to the chores, the
news, work and school. If last year’s figures are any indication, about a third of last
week’s worshipers will show up today. I don’t say that as judgment but as a fact of
life. It’s hard to sustain the enthusiasm of Easter once Easter’s over, once the

memory gets further and further away.
Thomas wasn’t there the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples. He was

the only one of the eleven who wasn’t there, which tells you something about his

character. Like Peter, he distinguished himself by saying things no one else would

say.
 When Jesus went to Lazarus’ home in Bethany – deep in enemy territory –
and everyone else was trying to talk him out of it, Thomas said, Let’s go,

that we may die with him.

 When Jesus sat down at the Last Supper and told his friends not to be afraid,

because they knew the way where he was going, it was Thomas who said,

Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?
In other words, Thomas wasn’t a follower. He was a brave and literal-

minded maverick who could be counted to do the right thing, but only after he had
convinced himself that it was the right thing. Maybe you’ve known someone like

that yourself . . . someone whose refusal to go along with the crowd has more

integrity than those who go along easily . . . even when going along happens to be

the right thing to do.

Those who were at that first Easter evening saw the risen Lord. They were

so convinced it was him that afterwards they told Thomas he could take their word

for it. Jesus was back, still wounded but very much alive. He had forgiven them.

He who had every right to hunt them down and punish them for deserting him in

his moment of need had not said, Shame on you, but rather, Peace be with you, and

with those words He brought healing into their lives and made them whole again.
And their response? We’ve seen the Lord! Most would have responded, you’ve all
seen him? Well, that’s good enough for me. But not Thomas….Unless I see . . . I
won’t believe.

Aren’t we all Thomas’ who want to see something for ourselves before we
decide whether or not it’s true? I’ve heard of UFO’s and Elvis sightings . . . but

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April 27, 2014 & 2nd Sunday of Easter
Are We Not All Doubting Thomas’ -- Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9 & John 20:19-31

remain a skeptic. I’ve heard of stigmata’s, out-of-body travel, and weeping statues
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I haven’t seen them myself and until I do, they remain
hearsay for me. I'm not saying they’re not true; I’m saying I don’t now them to be
true for myself. Unless I see, I won’t believe. Are there things in your life you
won’t trust or believe without firsthand experience?

Thomas’ attitude is understandable… to us…to Jesus, and that’s why Jesus

returned when Thomas was there; for his benefit alone. In the end, all the disciples

saw for themselves, . . . and believed.
Now, that seems to leave us out because we weren’t there. We’re separated

from the story by two thousand years and yet Jesus means to include us. Speaking
over Thomas’ shoulder, Jesus says, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet

have come to believe.

In other words . . . us! Those of us who have never seen him in the flesh,

who have only the testimony of others to rely on . . . people who were there and
who, though they’re long dead, still beg us to take their word for what they saw. 1

1 Inspiration from Barbara Taylor Brown.

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