Thomas found Jesus, but only when he gathered with others

Thomas found Jesus, but only when he gathered with others

By REV. FR. SAMUEL FREDERICK

Acts 2:42-47, 1 Pet. 1:3-9, Jn 20:19-31. Today's being the Second Sunday of Easter also known as Divine Mercy Sunday, we recall with gratitude, God’s care for us: the outpouring of His love for us. Divine Mercy Sunday was instituted by Pope John Paul II in the Jubilee Year of 2000 AD, according to the visions of Faustina Kowalska, a Polish Nun who saw the vision of the Lord in the Divine Mercy and wrote about her experiences. With profound realisation of the mercy of God, we are able to join Peter in the second reading to praise our God and Father who has enabled us to give ‘a new birth to a living hope.’ The earliest Christian community built on them by: teaching as a community, breaking of bread, prayers and sharing their possessions as a community. In today's Gospel, the risen Lord appeared to the Apostles, who were gathered in one place. Thomas was not there and thus missed the blessing of seeing and experiencing the risen Lord.

There is surely joy to be found in a personal relationship with Jesus, but the Lord also announced His special presence whenever two or three are gathered in His name. This shows that a privatisation of faith, a rejection of fellowship and a refusal to gather with the Church shot us out of His favour. Regardless of our doubts and difficulties with the faith, we need to keep gathering with the Church. In some ways faith is like a stained glass window that is best appreciated from inside the Church. From the outside there may seem very little about it that is beautiful. It may even look dirty and leaden, but once one ventures inside and adjusts to the light, one can see that the window radiates beauty. It is often this way with the faith. As our fellowship and communion grow more intense, our faith becomes clearer and more firm. The eyes of our faith see far more than our fleshly eyes, but in order to see and experience our blessings we must gather. Any aspects of His presence that are found outside the Church are mere glimpses, shadows emanating from the Church. He must be sought where He is found, among sinners in His Church. “Feeling” His presence while alone can never compare to hearing the Priest say: “Behold the Lamb of God.” Thomas found Him, but only when he gathered with the others.

May the Lord bless our faith expression realised in acts of charity in our closer union with God especially this period of coronavirus pandemic! Amen!! Stay safe and happy Sunday!!!

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