HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

Second Sunday of Easter (Year C)

Apr 7, 2013

3548

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First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (5:12-16)

Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.

A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24)

(R) Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Let the house of Israel say, "His mercy endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His mercy endures forever." Let those who fear the Lord say, "His mercy endures forever." (R)

I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my saviour. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just. (R)

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Book of Revelation (1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19)

I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God's word and gave testimony to Jesus.

I was caught up in spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said, "Write on a scroll what you see." Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with the right hand and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards."

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

Gospel Acclamation

(R) Alleluia, alleluia!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe! (R)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (20:19-31)

On the evening of the 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 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.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

On Easter day we reflected on how the disciples came to believe in the resurrection and understand its meaning through the scriptures. And it is therefore imperative that we also use the scriptures to know, understand and experience Jesus Christ and his promise of true life, hope, peace, and joy through resurrection. Today we look at all the three readings because the same theme runs through them.

A man and his wife were travelling in a boat across a river, along with their relatives. They were married just that morning. As they were sailing a severe storm broke out producing torrential rains, high winds and lightening. The boat was rocking violently. Everyone including the bride was full of fear. But the groom remained calm. The surprised bride asked, "Aren't you afraid?" The groom without replying took out a dagger from his waistband and raised it as though he was going to slit her throat. There was no reaction on her face. He asked her, "Are you not afraid of the dagger?" She said, "The dagger could be dangerous, but the person who is holding it, is my loving husband. So I am not afraid." "Exactly!" exclaimed the man. "These waves may be dangerous but God who is moving them is full of love. So I am not afraid!"

The story reminds us of the first century Christians' total dependence, complete trust and confidence in God whom they believed and worshipped. The scripture readings encourage us to have full faith in the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the first reading, Saint Luke tells us what the Lord Jesus did with His power through his apostles. The apostles went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed their message with incredible signs and wonders. Those miracles were not for the Christians who already believed but were done in the presence of unbelievers to make them believe in the message. Some people even carried the sick out onto the streets and waited for the apostles, hoping that as the apostles walked by at least their shadow might fall on them. It may seem superstitious in our modern world but it shows their faith in the power of God. What was happening through the apostles is strikingly similar to what had happened through our Lord Jesus. Do you remember the story of a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhage touched the clothes of Jesus? In Mark (5:27-28) we read, "She had heard about Jesus, and she came through the crowd and touched his cloak from behind, thinking, "If I can just touch his clothes, I shall be saved." In fact the apostles were performing even greater miracles than Jesus. It was a partial fulfillment of our Lord's promise to His disciples as in John (14:12), "In all truth I tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father."

In the second reading, Saint John shares his encounter with the Risen Christ. John was in exile on an island called Patmos and undergoing a time of persecution under the Roman emperor. While he was consumed with fear of what would happen to him on this island he heard a voice behind him. He turned and saw Jesus Christ wearing a robe standing in the midst of seven gold lampstands representing seven persecuted communities at the time. This vision was meant to encourage John at a very difficult, trying time. The Lord Jesus assured him of his presence with him and instructed him to write down everything he had seen, what was happening and what would happen afterwards. So he wrote down his experience to encourage others in their faith. The early Christians, for many years, gathered secretly to pray and worship. They lived their lives in fear. They feared physical persecution and suffering. They were imprisoned and put to death. However, while the persecution intensified over time, they became stronger and more courageous. The resurrected Christ drove out their fear and gave them courage and strength. Even today in places like China and countries with a Muslim-majority, Christians live under constant danger of torture and death because of their belief in Jesus.

In today's gospel, Saint John recounts another story which happened long before his personal encounter with the Risen Christ. The disciples had witnessed the suffering and the crucifixion of Jesus, and they really thought the Jews could do the same to them. So, they gathered on the evening of the first day of the week and hid behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Suddenly Jesus appeared in their midst and uttered the most powerful and comforting words. He greeted them, "Peace be with you." Jesus' appearance and his greetings of peace not only enabled them to overcome all fear and anxiety but also made them strong and courageous, and brought them reconciliation, forgiveness and hope.

What is the message for us? We openly gather today to profess our faith in the Risen Lord and worship him without fear of anyone. Nonetheless we all have fears from time to time and we have different types of fears. That's true no matter how big or brave we are. We have fear of the future, fear of the past, fear of the people around us and those who are different from us. We fear being alone. We fear pain. We fear hunger. We fear humiliation, embarrassment and shame. We fear failure. We fear death. We fear when our loved ones die and when our health fails. We fear losing our jobs, status and money. We fear when relationships end.

We are reminded today that these are essentially the same fears and anxieties experienced by all the Christian believers of the past, starting with the disciples and even when God does allow trials and tribulations to come into our lives, we can still believe in His promise of everlasting presence and greetings of peace. Romans (8:28) says, "God works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns everything to their good." And in Matthew (11:28-29) we read Jesus saying, "Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls." So whatever the illness or fears or hardship you have, and whatever the situation you are in, bring them today and every day to the Lord Jesus Christ and pray for healing, strength, endurance, patience and peace. Do not be unbelieving but believe in His Promise.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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