My Lord and My God

Second Sunday of Easter (B) -     

April 15, 2012:                          Thomas asked, “Lord, we do not know where you are

                                                        going. How can we know the way?” Jesus stated: “I  

                                                          am the way, the truth, and the life.”

            Today’s Gospel reading contains what scripture scholar Bruce Vawter calls “the most complete affirmation of Christ’s nature to be found on the lips of anyone in the gospel.” This precious affirmation is uttered by the apostle Thomas who should be better known as the “courageous Thomas” with his ready reaction of clearly speaking his views regardless of the pressures to agree or to remain silent.

His calm heroic strength is ignored by the Synoptic Gospels. Only John highlights a few incidents where Thomas’ courage shines forth. In John 11:16 when Christ’s life appeared to be in critical danger, Thomas urges the rest of the Apostles: “Let us go along and die with him.” In Jn 14/5, Jesus is telling the Twelve about eternal life, “You know the way that leads to where I go.” In reality they did not know what Jesus meant; only Thomas broke into the Lord’s dialogue and asked, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” A week later when Jesus invited Thomas to see and to touch his open wounds, the truth now became clear and Thomas said: “My Lord and my God!”

            Confident that God our Father welcomes our request, we now pray: “ALMIGHTY FATHER, GIVE US THE GRACE TO LIVE OUR TOMORROWS GUIDED BY THE CENTRAL MISSION OF JESUS. WE ASK YOU THIS THROUGH JESUS YOU SON OUR LORD. AMEN”

Easter Faith

Easter Sunday  (B) –

April 8, 2012: John 20: 1-9     “Then the disciple who arrived first at the tomb went in.

                                                        He saw and he believed!”

            Because of the Sabbath, it was very early on Sunday morning that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. When she arrived she was amazed and shocked to find the stone removed. This was a situation Mary felt she could not face herself. So she returned to the city to look for Peter and John. Mary, we realize, is the supreme example of one who went on loving and believing even when she could not understand and this is the love and the belief which in the end finds glory. So, then, it was to Peter and John that Mary went and they immediately set out for the tomb. They went running and the younger John outstripped Peter in this breathless race. With typical impulsiveness, Peter not only looked in, but went in, For the moment, Peter was only amazed at the empty tomb; but things began to happen in John’s mind. If tomb robbers were at work, why should they leave the grave clothes? Then something else struck John – the grave clothes were neither disheveled nor disarranged. They were lying there still in their folds. This sight suddenly penetrated to John’s mind. John realized what had happened--- and John believed! It was what John saw with his own eyes that convinced him that Jesus had risen!

            John was the first instance of what we call “Easter faith”. What John believed and what we celebrate today is the same reality – CHRIST IS RISEN! The empty tomb is the proof that Jesus has conquered both sin and death.

            On this glorious feast day, we give thanks to the Lord and we now confidently pray: “GOD OUR FATHER. WE PRAY THAT THE JOY OF THIS EASTER DAY MAY PENETRATE OUR MINDS AND HEARTS AND BRING US CLOSER TO YOU. WE ASK THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THE RISEN LORD. AMEN.”