Homily for the Week of April 15, 2012

Second Sunday of Easter: Mercy Sunday, 2012
First Reading: Acts 4:32–35
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24
Second Reading: 1 John 5:1–6
Gospel: John 20:19–31


In the early years of our country Catholics were unwelcome in most parts of this country except in Maryland which was considered as Mary’s land names after Mary the Mother of Jesus. That is why St. Elizabeth Seton left New York City and went to Emmitsburgh, Maryland when she became a Catholic. 150 years ago a political party was started called the Know Nothings. Whenever an Irish or German Catholic was found dead they would always reply I know nothing, though most likely one of them was the one who shot the person. In most states Catholics could not be elected to public office. Churches, Convents and homes where Catholics lived were burned down on a regular basis in many states. The reason for this bigotry was the belief that Catholics were not Americans because the Pope lived in Rome. . Freedom of religion applied to all religions except the Catholic religion. Our most cherished liberty is our freedom to practice our religion without government control.


I mention these facts of American history today because the Bible readings we have today on this 2nd Sunday of Easter say very much the same about the first Catholics and Christians in Palestine, a country where the accepted religion was Judaism. In today’s Gospel, the disciples are together locked in a room for fear that they would be arrested and killed for following Jesus. After all Jesus, their leader, had just been nailed to a cross in a public place because of his teachings. As followers of Jesus, they could be charged with Jesus’ crimes and suffer the same fate.


Most of us probably don’t realize that Jesus did not leave a blueprint or an instruction manual to produce Catholics. The church did not just pop up with everything all set out. But as in all difficult events there is always hope. A few weeks after his death Jesus comes and stands in front of them. They don’t believe it is Jesus because they had never known of anyone who had been buried who came to life again. Jesus says to them Peace be with you. One of them, by the name of Thomas wants evidence that it is Jesus. So Jesus then shows the disciples his hands and side, the unreadable evidence of the brutality inflicted on him. Oddly enough, instead of increasing their terror, this gesture causes them to rejoice. They then remembered the words of at the last supper when he told them that when they would see him again, their hearts would rejoice with a joy no one could take from them.


Many people today want to find out more about their ancestors. I get repeated requests for information about persons that might have lived in this area 150 years ago. There are web sites that specialize in ancestor tracking. County historians have same type of web sites. So it is just as reasonable for us who are Catholic to want to find out what did the first Christians believe, how did they worship, how did they act towards each other, how did they live out the teachings of Jesus.


Fortunately, we have 2 places to find out these things. It is the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. It gives us a sense of how the early Christians took care of each other. The most important mark of this new life was that the community was finally of one heart and mind. Very few actually gave up all of their possessions, but they did give what was necessary so that there was no needy person among them.


This second Sunday after Easter is also called Divine Mercy Sunday. Divine Mercy Sunday provides us with hope that even though we are far from perfect God still loves us. As our Psalm response says, we should give thanks to the Lord for He is good. This Sunday also provides us with a clue of how we can begin to get ourselves on track, and that is to love as God loves us. Instead of being children who believe that God owes us for our goodness, we should be people who thank God for God's goodness.


Mercy is another name for God and Jesus. Accepting mercy and extending mercy to others changes us and thus the world. Mercy is the beginning of justice. We cannot help others unless we first can express mercy and forgiveness.


We noticed in today’s Gospel that the friends of Jesus are filled with joy at seeing him, and he empowers them with the Holy Spirit, who will help them to forgive others. The story of Thomas, however, shows how difficult this can be. Thomas doubted. We, too, can be likr s doubting Thomas when it comes to our religion. As it was with Thomas it is also normal for us to question our faith or some parts of our faith, especially when our co workers, our classmates and the news reporters try to tells us we are all wrong. At times we do not understand how the practice of our faith makes sense. We may not be able to make the link between what we do here in church on a weekend should affect our life for the next 6 days. Let us pray each day, that in our doubts, we will hear Jesus say to us as he did to Thomas: Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. And we will respond like Thomas: My Lord and My God.