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APRIL 27, 2003- Second Sunday of Easter
† Jesus came and stood in there midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."
But Thomas was not with them when Jesus came. "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: 19-31
YOU WERE SO UNDERSTANDING EARLIER,
I JUST ASSUMED…
Finishing their shopping at the mall, a couple discovers that their brand new car has been stolen. They file a report at the police station and a detective drives them back to the parking lot to look for evidence.
To their amazement, the car has been returned and there's a note on the windshield: "I apologize for taking your car. My wife was having a baby and I had to hot-wire your ignition to rush her to the hospital. Please forgive the inconvenience. Here are two tickets for tonight's Shania Twain concert."
Their faith in humanity restored, the couple attends the concert and has a wonderful time. But when they return home, they find their house has been ransacked. On the bathroom mirror is another note: "I have to put my kid through college somehow, don't I?"
CONNECTION: Life often leaves us overwhelmed with its injustices, both large and small, and challenges, both annoying and insurmountable. Before long, we let a hard shell of cynicism surround us; skepticism becomes our shield to protect us from disappointment and heartache. Much like Thomas in today's Gospel, we can let ourselves become so beaten down and discouraged by life that we lose all reason to dream, to hope, to approach life with any enthusiasm; we see ourselves among the victims rather than as among the blessed; we let our discouragement and failures overwhelm the many good things that have happened to give our lives joy and meaning; we are unable to appreciate this life of ours as a gift from God, given in order that we might find God and, in our search, find ourselves. Easter faith is antithesis of a cynicism we know too well, a cynicism that refuses to embrace the possibilities of resurrection in the throes of death. May our Easter celebration transform our attitudes and perspectives, opening our eyes and hearts and spirits to encounter God in all creation; in every manifestation of selfless, joyful love; in every victory of light over darkness, of hope over despair, of good over evil. ¦
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