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 3, 2016

2479

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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

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

Once, after Easter Sunday service in his church, a man said to his friend, "You know, I have attended this church for five years now and each time the priest preached on the same topic. Doesn't he have something else to talk about?" His friend said to him, "Oh yes. I know you have been attending the service for five years but only on Easter Sunday and that's why you always hear the homily only on the resurrection of Christ."

Two days ago I happened to talk to a lapsed Catholic. He said when he went to Easter Sunday Mass this year he was quite surprised to witness a lively exchange between the priest and his congregation during his homily. He further said that it was something that he had never expected. I said that it is not something unusual. There are many ways to give a homily. Many priests do make their homilies more engaging. His comment and expression seemed to suggest that all of a sudden he saw some change in the Church. So, I asked him, "If you thought that the Church has changed much since the last time you went to church, will you continue to go? He strongly replied, "No", I will not."

If you are a regular church goer you have probably noticed more people attend services on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day than any other days of the year. It is unfortunate, many people do not return to church the following days. I believe one of the main reasons is that most of them have become wary, doubtful, sceptical, and sadly, even cynical regarding the Christian faith and the Church. Today's gospel reminds us that it is a constant struggle to keep our eyes fixed on our Lord Jesus and that we really should become a part of God's church to find answers to many existential issues.

John writes, "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", John (20:12). But, he also points out that Thomas, one of the disciples, was not with them when Jesus came. John does not mention the reason why Thomas was absent. But it is obvious Thomas missed something very important and special. He missed the appearance of Jesus. When others informed him of the appearance of the Lord, he refused to accept it and said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe", John (20:25).

Thomas was determined not to miss their next gathering. For him, the witness of others was important but his personal encounter with the Lord was more important. So a week later, when the disciples were again praying, Jesus came and stood among them. After greeting them, Jesus turned to Thomas and invited him to touch the nail marks in his hands and believe. Immediately Thomas fell down and worshipped Him, saying, "My Lord and My God!" It is clear that Thomas did not even stretch forth his hand to touch Jesus. When the others told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, he just could not believe it. But when he finally did see Jesus, his doubt turned into faith, his unbelief into belief.

What lessons can we learn from this gospel story? Our faith is not an isolated act. We are baptized into the faith of the Church. The seed of faith which is sown in us at baptism grows through the Church - through its beliefs, traditions, worship, community, witness, and loving deeds. The Church enables us to understand and deepen our faith.

You may recall on the first Easter Day when the women went to the tomb to look for the dead body of Jesus, two angels appeared to them and said that they should not seek the living Jesus among the dead but among the living because Jesus was resurrected and was in their midst. And in today's gospel, John says that Jesus appeared to the disciples as they were praying together. This was the promise Jesus made to them, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them", Matthew (18:20).

On the first day of the week, Sunday, the early Christians began meeting and praying together. Since then Sunday has become the Day of the Lord. It is the day of joy and the day of rest. It is the day of prayer and worship. It is at the Sunday gathering for the weekly celebration of Easter that we are given the best opportunity to see our living Jesus among us. Some might say that the quality of our relationship with God or faith in God is not determined by how often we are in church and, God's love for us is not based on the number of times we attend formal gatherings of believers and so on.

However, there is no doubt that attending and participating in the Holy Mass every week assures us that we are at least among God's people. It is the day to have fellowship with people of all races, cultures and languages but worship and proclaim the same God, and read and reflect on the same Scriptures. It is the day we can publicly bear witness to our faith. It is the day to encourage one another and strengthen our faith and, get answers to all our problems. Therefore, let us not isolate ourselves from other believers. If you are a regular churchgoer remember that Sunday Mass is more than an obligation. If we stay away from the gatherings of believers, like Thomas, we might miss the opportunity to witness the appearance of Jesus and our doubts might remain with us for years to come.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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