There’s Hope for Us!

Homily for 2^nd Sunday of Easter (Cycle A)

by Deacon Rich Mueller

3/30/08

WOW!  He is Risen, Alleluia!!  There is so much meat in our readings today, it’s hard to know what to talk about first.  Short of a 30 minute homily, I don’t think we can cover more than a brief couple of points.  So, I’d like to focus on the personal growth of the disciples in the days and weeks immediately following the Resurrection; in the hope that this Easter season, we might have that same transformation for our own lives.

If we pay close attention to all three readings this week we can see a fascinating transformation in the disciples over time.  Although we hear the readings in the usual order: first, second, Gospel—chronologically speaking, the events actually occurred in this order: Gospel, first, second.  I think it’s helpful for us to consider the readings in this order.

The Gospel reading this week is the famous story of Doubting Thomas; a story we all know by heart I’m certain.  The story takes place one week after Jesus’ resurrection and all the other disciples except Thomas had seen Jesus alive.  Thomas replies to their amazing story by saying, in effect, “You guys are nuts!  I’m not gonna believe your crazy tales unless I stick my fingers in the nail holes in his hands!”

Although the other disciples had seen Jesus alive and believed that He definitely had risen from the dead, the Gospel tells us they were hiding behind locked doors, fearful that the authorities might come after them next; that they might be the next ones crucified.  We see a group of men who have had their “dream bubble” burst.  They are frightened, confused, maybe even a bit embarrassed.  They are wondering about how they can return to their old lives, get their old jobs back, resume their lives with their wives and children, all while suffering the abuse and ridicule of those who would be all too eager to tell them “I told you so!”  Not exactly bold witnesses spreading the Good News to the rest of the world, were they?

In fact, I think its safe to say that at that particular point in time, they had no intention of telling anyone else about Jesus’ resurrection.  As far as they were concerned, the Good News was going to be a private secret that eleven very fearful souls would take to their graves.  But then suddenly, their Messiah is in their midst; and its quickly like old times.  He tells them not to be afraid, but to go out and proclaim from the mountain tops – Jesus Christ has conquered death!  Even more amazingly, he says that they should do as he did – and he gives them the power to forgive sins and work miracles in His name.

        But Thomas isn’t there, and no matter how hard they try, they cannot convince him that Jesus has been there and given them this great command.  “I’ll believe it when I see it myself” he says to them.  You and I know exactly how Thomas felt, and no doubt would have done the same thing, had it been us in those sandals.  But Jesus humors him, and appears to Thomas and the others again, to restore Thomas’ faith.

        But how unfair is that, you might ask, and rightly so!  Because I have seen, I believe?  That’s not faith!  If something is proven beyond any doubts, it takes no faith at all to believe!  And you would be right!  I watched a special during Holy Week about the Shroud of Turin; and they showed how scientific tests were being used by both believers and unbelievers to prove or disprove one’s faith that this was the burial shroud of Christ.  Or do you remember 5 or 6 years ago, when scientists reconstructed a first century skull to “prove” to us what Jesus “really” looked like?  It made the cover of Popular Mechanics, which of course gave it all the more credibility; since this is the one resource we all should be consulting to strengthen our faith!  Fortunately, Jesus, even while allowing Thomas to see and touch him, blesses those who believe but have not seen – which is great, because that would be us!

Then we get to our first reading this week, which takes place just after Pentecost, about 6 weeks after Easter, when the Holy Spirit came to give the disciples a jump start of courage and conviction.  Peter had just finished proclaiming the Gospel in public for the first time, which resulted in 3,000 new converts putting their faith in Christ.  Not bad for a guy who six weeks earlier had denied he even knew Jesus, and then spent the days after the crucifixion hiding behind locked doors. 

Our reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us the new believers “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.”  What an amazing turn-around.  In less than two months the apostles went from being confused cowards trying to figure out how to sneak out of Jerusalem and resume their former lives in anonymity, to boldly proclaiming a radical message of God’s great love in the heart of the city and shepherding thousands of new Christians.

These uneducated fishermen and farmers and businessmen were now the leaders and teachers of a new and growing church.  From what little we have learned about these guys in the Gospels, it’s pretty obvious they did not possess the skills needed to build such a vibrant community on their own.  Only by the power of the Holy Spirit working in them and through them did they achieve such stunning results.  Frankly, that does more to build up my faith than had it been the other way around – because clearly they accomplished what they did through the power of God, not through their own good work!

This brings us to our second reading—Peter’s first letter written probably decades later—and here the former fisherman reflects on the source of their stunning transformation: “God…gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  They were the first “born again” Christians!  They experienced a spiritual rebirth—as we all should—when they put their faith in Jesus.  This faith was the source of their hope of eternal life, which Peter described as “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” 

And it all started with the Resurrection of Jesus.  What started out looking like a disaster for Jesus’ followers on Good Friday afternoon turned into the most incredible moments of joy on Easter morning.  The empty tomb, that central event in the history of the universe, turned everything upside down.  Death was no longer final.  Eternal life became a reality.  The power of the resurrection gave Peter and the other apostles the courage we need to forget about their own safety and to get out and do the will of God.  Hopefully, this same faith gives us the courage to overcome the obstacles and challenges in our lives to follow God’s will for our lives.

Personally, I’m thankful that Jesus picked fallible, inexperienced people to be His original apostles.  We can all probably relate to them a lot better; I know I sure can!  When we see over the course of this week’s readings how they were transformed, it’s clear that it was the power of God working in them rather than their own abilities.  This gives us hope that we, too, can grow in our walk with the Lord.  Even during those times when we have doubts and fears, we know that by focusing on the Resurrection, we will draw closer to Christ and, as Peter explained, “attain the goal of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls.”  Nothing else will matter!

        God is so good…..Amen?  AMEN, Alleluia!!