Homily for Sunday, April 15, 2007

II SUNDAY OF EASTER

(John 20)

Today, the second Sunday of Easter, used to be called Low Sunday. The rather unspectacular reason for this name was that the first Sunday of Easter was called the “high feast of Easter.” The second Sunday, when the people were still celebrating the resurrection of the Lord, was then named the “low feast of Easter.”

The gospel today relates Jesus’ appearances to his disciples both on the day he rose from the day and a week later. We all know the story well since we hear this same gospel on the second Sunday of Easter every year. Thomas is not present when Jesus first appears to his followers. But there he stands before Jesus the second time around. Since Thomas has insensitively said that he would not believe unless he touches Jesus’ wounds, Jesus invites him to do just that! The scene ends with Jesus blessing all those who believe without seeing. We can conclude then that this gospel passage is meant to confirm our faith in Christ’s resurrection.

Seven years ago, Pope John Paul II declared that this second Sunday of Easter would be known as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” The reason for this title may also be found in the same gospel passage. On the evening of his resurrection when Jesus appears to his disciples, he breathes on them the Holy Spirit. Sending them into the world with the power to forgive sins, Jesus makes them agents of God’s mercy.

With all the talk of a “crisis of faith,” we might think that most people no longer believe in life after death. Likewise, we might want to proclaim divine mercy since many people seem to reject God because they see Him as a task master. However, Americans overwhelmingly believe in an afterlife and also that they will experience heaven! A poll taken a few years ago showed that eight out of ten Americans accept life after death and another one in ten is at least uncertain about it. When asked whether they expect to get to heaven, almost two Americans in three said “yes.” Not surprisingly, therefore, only one person in two hundred sees herself or himself as literally damned.

Since so many people already accept the resurrection of the dead and believe in God’s mercy, why bother repeating this gospel year after year? We might find another reason in what Thomas proclaims after Jesus challenges his disbelief. Thomas calls Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas speaks on behalf of all of us, doesn’t he? Jesus is our Lord and our God. This means that we submit our will to his; we will keep his commandments. The one commandment that he emphasizes, at least in the Gospel of John, is that we love one another as he has loved us.

Such love sounds as simple as “2+2” but many make it as complex as calculus. A man is taking care of his wife with Alzheimer’s disease. He asks his children to help out by calling their mother from time-to-time. Of course, he tells them, it is hard to carry on a conversation, but she so much enjoys hearing their voices. Still, they resist – at least, three of the four siblings. Loving one another at least demands that we care for the people whom God has put close to us.

When the new king is proclaimed at the end of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, all characters make a grand bow. He is their “lord,” the one whose commands they will keep. We recognize Jesus as someone greater. He is for each of us “my Lord and my God.” To him we bow not just our bodies but our wills as well. To him we bow our wills.