SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR C – 8AM

When something strange or unusual happens,

for example, a train wreck, a plane crash,  

a nuclear disaster, we call for a public investigation.

If what happened on Easter Sunday two thousand years ago

were to happen today, 

we would immediately call for a public enquiry.

Fortunately for us, the gospels would hold up in court. 

Jesus’ death could be established without doubt.

It was a public event. / There were numerous witnesses.

But Jesus’ resurrection is a different story.  

Here the witnesses would be called one by one.  

Mary of Magdala would be the first to take the witness stand.

Peter would be next, followed by John,

then by the two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus. /

Finally, Thomas would take the stand. 

He was the one who refused to believe all the stories

that Jesus had risen from the dead.  

He demanded positive proof.

What about this Thomas?

The Gospel tells us that Thomas was the risk-taking man.

He once suggested that ALL the disciples

should go with Jesus to Jerusalem and die with him if necessary.

Thomas focused on the value of teamwork.

He was also honest when he said 

he did not understand a word Jesus was saying

when Jesus said he was the way to the Father.

So, Thomas was a truth-seeker.

But today, we wonder why Thomas was absent after the death of Jesus,

since he had emphasized the value of teamwork.

Why didn’t he stay with his brothers and wait to find out

whether Jesus’ prophesy of his resurrection would come true?

When Peter told Thomas that Jesus was truly alive

and had appeared to the whole group, Thomas doubted. 

Why? / Thomas could not believe anything Peter said.

Peter had promised fidelity to Jesus, and then denied him three times.

Thomas was disheartened, disillusioned, and angry.

He was unwilling to accept the word of others.

As a truth-seeker, Thomas sought the evidence of Jesus’ wounds.

Eventually, it was by the wounds of Jesus, that his doubts were healed.

When Thomas saw the wounds of Christ, he declared his faith solemnly:

‘My Lord and my God!’

His search for the wounded man, Jesus, 

brought him to the Christ of glory.

This “doubting” Thomas led John to write this conclusion to his Gospel:

“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 Messiah, the Son of God,

and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”

Like Thomas, are we sometimes a strange mixture of belief and unbelief?

In our lives, there are moments of crisis when our minds are darkened 

and our vision of God is blurred by clouds of doubt.

It is no wonder we can pray like Thomas: 

‘My Lord and my God.’ / ‘I believe.  // Help my unbelief.’ /

We want to hear Jesus’ words,

‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ (Pause)

This Sunday is also the Sunday of Divine Mercy.

Today’s Gospel reveals the grace and mercy of God

in forgiving sins and in forgiving Thomas.

It wants us to know that in case of doubt,

we should always lean on divine mercy.

It is said that our prayer and God’s mercy

are like two buckets in a well; 

while the one ascends the other descends.

It means that while our prayer ascends, God’s mercy descends.

God’s mercy is boundless, free, and available to us.

Saint Augustine said, “Trust the past to the mercy of God.

Entrust the present to his love, and the future to his providence.”

Thomas entrusted his past to the mercy of our Lord.

He did have a moment of doubt about Jesus’ resurrection,

      yet he immediately worshiped Jesus: “My Lord and my God.”

He entrusted his present to Jesus’ love and forgiveness.

And after the moment of regaining faith,

      he entrusted his future to Jesus’ providence.

If God’s mercy could spare Thomas from his weakness,

      should we expect anything less?