An Encounter with The Merciful Lord!

(Homily for the 2^nd Sunday of Easter Year A)

Divine Mercy Sunday

     If the last Sunday, Easter Day underlined the mystery of the Resurrection, this present one is more of the human response to the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection and his Absence-Presence. The “apparitions” or rather appearances of the Resurrected Christ to his apostles and disciples are not mere apparitions, but they are encounters, meetings with the person of the Risen Lord, because the concept of “apparition” tends to limit the event to an appearance of a ghost. But it is the concept of “encounter” that depicts very well the realism of the Resurrection. Having established the credibility of this realism, he sends his apostles out. As we read in the Gospel, Apostle Thomas is probably the paradigm of every man in the journey of faith: a passage from incredulity to faith in the Risen Christ, from the search of evidence to the joyful profession of faith, from skepticism to certitude of faith, occasioned by the immensity of Divine Mercy. In the first reading, the community of Jerusalem proclaims her faith in the Risen Lord, when they reunite every Sunday to listen to the teachings of the apostles and to celebrate in fraternal communion the breaking of the Bread: sign of the mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection. In the second reading St. Peter applauds those who believe without seeking for evidence: “You have not seen him, yet you love him, and still without seeing him you believe in him” (1Pt. 1:8).

     Today being Divine Mercy Sunday we are called to celebrate God's Mercy, for the whole world is enveloped in and by the mercy of God. Indeed, it behooves us today to affirm and reaffirm that Mercy is the most eloquent attribute of God. Mercy is the interpretative key to all the Mysteries of God and to all the Events of our Lord Jesus. For instance: ●The creation of man is a sign of God's merciful love. ●The incarnation of Jesus is purely a manifestation of the Divine Mercy. ●The signs and miracles performed by Jesus are equally splendid manifestation of God's mercy. ●The Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ are maximum expressions of Divine Mercy. ●The Resurrection doubtlessly is also an ultimate manifestation of God's mercy. As Pope Francis would say, Mercy is another name of God. In her Diary, St. Faustina attributed the following words to the Merciful Lord: “Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins that there are grains of sand in the world, all will be drowned in the immeasurable depths of My mercy”. Indeed, the responsorial Psalm picks up this theme of the endless mercy of God: “His mercy endures forever.”

     It is reassuring to all of us sinners to know that God’s mercy is beyond our imagination and the human doubt. Jesus invited Thomas to the Sacred Heart and He is doing same to us today. The story of Thomas no doubt is so appropriate for this Divine Mercy Sunday. The words of Thomas reveal to us a journey of faith and the journey reaches its apex in the mercy of our Lord. Even though he was one of the apostles but nothing much was known about Thomas, however he spoke and intervened four good remarkable times in the Gospels: ●First, when Jesus received the news of the death of Lazarus and wanted to go there even after the threat of the Jews, he said: “Let us go also and die with him” (Jn.11:16). ●Second, when Jesus says he was going to the Father, he spoke up: “Lord, we do no not know the where you are going; how can we know the way? Jesus answered I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn.14:5-6). ●Third, is his famous doubt in today’s Gospel passage: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (Jn.20:25). ●And lastly, his surrender and proclamation of faith: “My Lord and my God” (Jn.20:28). These four interventions of Thomas depict four emotions that characterize a journey of faith: frustration, questioning, seeking proof and proclamation of faith.

     In the Gospel (Jn. 20:19-31) we are presented with the account of the two appearances of the risen Lord: first, to the disciples on Easter evening, and second to Thomas a week later, and the latter is peculiar to St. John. In this episode the purpose of the appearances of the Risen Lord is now seen as a way of establishing his identity. Prior to this, the earlier tradition presented the Risen Lord from a more spiritual dimension, here instead, we see an emphasis on the physical reality of the risen One, and this preserves the truth, the realism and the identity of the crucified – risen Christ. St. John underlines with vigor that Christ who appears and who is in the midst of his disciples is a living and real Being, the same Jesus  that was nailed on the Cross, for this he shows the hands and the side, those are the signs of martyrdom (v.20). He equally underlined the different ways of manifestation of Jesus before and after the Resurrection. There is a profound difference: He enters now unexpectedly, even when the doors are locked. Indeed, this Gospel periscope is replete with many themes, ranging from apparitions of the risen Lord, faith of the apostles, to the gifts of the Risen Lord to his people.

     However, the episode of the Gospel is equally situated in the context of a Christian community. Let us take into consideration the two great gifts that the Risen Christ brought to the first Christian community of the apostles reunited in the Cenacle: Jesus gave them the gift of peace “Peace be with you”. Peace biblically embraces all the divine promises: grace, blessing, divine benevolence, interior serenity and salvation. Secondly, he gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit. “He breathed on them and said: receive the Holy Spirit”. Upon this, he gave them a mandate as well: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained” (Jn. 20:23). The Holy Spirit was given to the first Christian community and to the entire church, specifically for the remission of sins, and for the regeneration of men in the life of grace. Having received this Gift are we regenerated?

     Thomas wanted to see him in his presence before he would believe in his absence. After his appearance he disappeared. Every time he was recognized off he was. In fact, in a way the Easter story is much more a story of his disappearances, than of his appearances. Indeed, it was as if he wanted to tell them something, to tell them: Now up to you, even though I am alive, but I will be absent, so it is up to you, little wonder he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. Anyone who has the Christ experience must have a change or transformation of life. And the attitude of Jesus towards Thomas the unbelieving apostle, reflects greatly God’s faithfulness and mercy, who condescended to accept the incredulity of man, in order to bring him to an unwavering faith, to a solid and definitive faith: “My Lord and My God”. This has become an uninterrupted confession of faith of the Church in the Resurrection of Christ.

     The evangelist wants to present Jesus to the Church in the new existential condition of the Risen, as the one to whom “every power in heaven and earth” (Mt.28:18) has been given to, and he transmits this power to his Church, the first is to forgive sins and second, the proclamation of the Lordship of Christ, and this is truly the real meaning of Easter, “It was for this purpose that Christ both died and came to life again: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Rm. 14:9). In order to express their certainty in the presence of Jesus, the first disciples of Jesus, were using the title Lord, in Greek Kyrios, Jesus is the Lord, this was the oldest and simplest form of the profession of faith of the Christians, “if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rm.10:9). The Lordship of Jesus is founded on his resurrection, and he continues to reign. And it is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to make this proclamation of faith, for “nobody is able to say, Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit” (1Cor. 12:3).

     The episode of today’s Gospel relative to the two apparitions of the Risen Christ teaches us also the importance of faith in our relationship with Christ. In fact, Thomas that was not present in the first appearances, did not believe the testimony of the other apostles. He wanted to see Him personally, touch Him, he wanted to have a direct personal experience with Him. And he was satisfied when Jesus appeared the second time, after eight days. This time, Thomas was present, but Jesus does not applaud the unbelieving apostle, rather He says: “You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (Jn.20:29). As such, we should not ask for the tangible demonstration or sensible experience, as Thomas did, rather the grace to grow in a pure and genuine faith. To believe entails confiding and entrusting oneself to Christ and the testimony of the apostles: a faith that wants to see, touch, and experience is not a true faith, but distrust and diffidence to Christ and the first witnesses: the apostles. The Risen Lord declared blessedness for those who believe without seeing, and it does not mean that they (believers) will be immune to sufferings and trials.

     The First reading (Acts 2:42-47) gives us indications on how we can express and nourish this faith. As exemplified with the experience of the first Christian community, “they were assiduous in listening to the teachings of the apostles, in fraternal communion, in sharing of bread and in prayers.” Therefore, listening to the Word of God, fraternal communion, Eucharist and common prayer were the principal nutrients and the authentic expressions of our Christian faith. Faith has to be translated into works of charity. And indeed, in the first Christian community “they sold their goods and possessions and distributed the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed” (Acts 2:45). Is this working among us today?

     The first reading presents the first Christian community in her specific characteristics, as we have seen. They are the characteristics that should distinguish every Christian community. Do we see these characteristics in our own Christian community? May be in part yes, we gather to listen to the teachings of the apostles and of Christ (even though we may not be really assiduous and faithful like the first Christian community), we break together the Eucharistic bread in the celebration of the Mass, we gather together, and also there is certain level of fraternal communion amongst us. However, of all these elements the one that is majorly lacking in our communities is that which makes a Christian community to be what it really is, not just an anonymous assembly of people. And that is fraternal union, being one heart and one mind, being a family of God’s children. Even though, there may be some objective difficulties: big population (human rapport becomes difficult). But to actualize this, there is need to conquer individualism and spiritual inertia that block the gestures of opening up to others. We cannot be Christians without being brothers and friends; we cannot be strangers to each other. As it happens, sometimes during kiss of peace, some people bring out their hands like corpse, no interest, no warmth, and no concern! Where then is the fraternal communion?

     The second reading (1Pt. 1:3-9) on its part addresses the experiences of a Christian community and of a Christian community of the future, that will come to believe in Christ unlike Thomas: “You have not seen him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him you believe in him and so are filled with a great joy so glorious that it cannot be described” (v.8). This is the birth of a future Christian community that loves, believes and announces Jesus Christ and his Resurrection. St. Peter encourages a Christian community that has to pass through trials, difficulties and persecutions, but nevertheless joyful: “This is a great joy to you, even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials” (1Pt. 1:6). What is great joy for them? Even in the midst of their trials, from where comes this joy? As we can see in the preceding verses it springs up from three motives: ● The consciousness of being regenerated, the new life received by virtue of the faith in the Resurrection. ● The living hope to attain salvation and to gain the eternal inheritance promised by Christ. ● The conviction that trials serve to purify and fortify our faith. Therefore, we have a lot to learn as a church, as a Christian community and as individuals. Sometimes also we face trials and we are persecuted in all angles. However, let us not be melancholic or attempt to withdraw into ourselves, rather we should have peace of mind and interior serenity, with the conviction that also trials and persecutions fortify and purify our faith. Above all, the joy of this community springs from the fact of being proclaimed blessed (cf. Jn.20:29) for not seeking for evidence before believing: “You have not seen him, yet you love him, and still without seeing him you believe in him” (1Pt. 1:8).

     Beloved as we celebrate His Mercy today, let us take to heart the invitation of Jesus: "Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate" (Lk.6:36). As such, we are called to be objects and subjects of God's mercy. As daily recipients of God's mercy, we are called to be merciful to others. Another striking element is that after the Resurrection the wounds of Jesus remained, the wounds reveal the victory of his Resurrection and the fact that he is forever fixed in the act of loving for which he died. And when we reflect on this in the light of the present pandemic, it shows that his mercy does not seek to cover the harsh realities of life or to remove suffering, but gives us courage to persevere and win. In this period more than ever, Jesus is present in our midst saying: “Peace be with you”, receive His Peace and be made whole. May God continue to show us his mercy especially in our world today, torn apart by the presages of war, violence, hatred, fear and despondency. May the freshness of his mercy (Lam. 3:22-23) heal us and heal our world. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! Jesus our trust is in You!! Amen!!!

(Fr. Vitus M. C. Unegbu, SC)