April 23, 2017

 2nd Sunday of Easter Acts 2: 42-47; 1 Peter 1: 3-9; John 20: 19-31 Holy Week, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, is a time to reflect on God’s total love. At times the thought comes to me and I wonder why did Jesus do all that He did? Immediately I realize that He did this for me because He loves me. Then I look at the times the I have not responded to His love and the times that I have been absolutely non-loving. And I wonder how could He love me during these times? It just doesn’t make sense…it doesn’t if I’m thinking with my own feelings and emotions. But the whole story of creation and redemption shows a God who is loving and caring and creates each person as a beautiful gift to the world. Do I realize this? Not too often…but I’m reflecting on this a lot more as I read some of the classics of the saints and spiritual giants. Some books: The Interior Castle…St. Teresa of Avila Showings…Julian of Norwich Little Talks with God…St Catherine of Siena The Sacred Moment, Becoming Holy Right Where You Are…Albert Haase, OFM The Love of Jesus and the Love of Neighbor…Karl Rahner Life and Holiness…Thomas Merton These books tell me to be grateful for the gift of myself and to live this gift. St. Teresa of Avila in The Interior Castle puts it this way: “If you want to make progress on the path and ascend to the places you have longed for, the important thing is not to think much but to love much, and so to do whatever best awakens you to love. If you fall sometimes, do not lose heart. Keep striving to walk your path with integrity. God will draw out the good even from your fall, just as the man who sells antidotes will drink poison to test their effectiveness.” We see this enthusiasm and direction from today’s readings. The first reading from Acts brings us to Peter’s Pentecost sermon where nearly three thousand were moved by God’s grace to accept Baptism. As a result we are given an overview of the temperament and make-up of this new community of believers. They relied on the apostles to guide them and build up their faith in Jesus. So I ask myself how much time do I spend just reading the Gospels and being with Jesus? This community of believers are also devoted to the breaking of the bread. The apostles share the significance of the Last Supper. Now the people gather in the homes of the faithful to celebrate this eucharistic ritual. They also realize that from the gift they have been given they have the responsibility to share and to care. This brings them from detachment from the goods of the world as seen from Jesus’ parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12: 16-21) to sharing what they have for the benefit of those in need. They have discovered their ‘pearl of great price’—The Lord, and are filled with praise of God. Their meals are joyful, their hearts are sincere and all regard them favorably and this keeps on bringing more converts to The Way, the original name for this group of believers. Peter, as always, brings practicality to the front: there will be hardships the faithful must endure “for a little while.” Jesus suffered, each person must realize that in following the way of love that Jesus taught and lived, people will be hesitant and even refuse to respond positively. They are stuck in their ways: they like to think only of themselves…they want to hoard…they want more…they don’t care about others. We have this ‘same disease’. As Peter reminds us we have to keep in mind our goal, “Although you have not seen Him you love Him; even though you do not see Him now yet believe in Him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” John’s gospel shares the appearance of the risen Lord to His disciples in the Upper Room and the commissioning of them through the Holy Spirit and later on another appearance when Thomas is present. The scene is set…the apostles were afraid of their own Jews. They had locked themselves in. They were no doubt afraid that the same horrible suffering that happened to Jesus was in store for them. Jesus appeared “Peace be with you.” No doubt they were shocked and skeptical. Then Jesus said again “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.” Jesus brings the Spirit to each one. Now they are able to comprehend that Jesus is God. They are the witnesses of God’s plan from all time. And note that they are only able to realize this through the presence and grace of the Holy Spirit. The same is true for each of us: it is the Holy Spirit who helps each one to be a person of love. We just can’t do it on our own. Jesus said that He would not leave any of us orphans, the Holy Spirit is with us. Do I think I can do it on my own? When I think this the devil is sneaking into my inner brain and puffing me up to what I am not. Then along comes Thomas. Unfortunately he has been so unfairly labeled as ‘doubting Thomas.’ He doesn’t doubt…he just wants the same evidence that the other disciples required before they believed. He affirms this when he gives his own belief confession, “My Lord and my God!” This happens to each of us as we received Baptism and is rekindled and grown each time we receive the Eucharist and the other sacraments. We call it the gift of faith…this is a GIFT…it is from GOD…given to each person INDIVIDUALLY…GIVEN in love and with the Spirit’s HELP… Do I accept this gift? Do I ask for this gift when I am troubled? Connections shares these clarifying words, “The Spirit that Jesus breathes on the Eleven on Easter night is ‘breathed’ upon us, as well. It is the grace that enables us to live our lives with the belief that the good is always possible; it is the grace that enables us to transform our doubts and fears into reconciliation, justice and peace. We can let ourselves become so beaten down by life that our cynicism begins to destroy our spirit we are no longer able tor realize God’s presence among us; we fail to see this life of ours as a gift from God, given in order that we might find God and, in the process, find ourselves. May we realize God’s Spirit in our midst, enabling us to recreate this time and place of ours in the peace of the Risen One.” So I reflect on: • As I look at my life, when has doubt or resistance become the means through which I knew that Jesus was with me? • How do I pray when I really need Jesus and know the Spirit’s help is there for the asking? • As I look at myself is part of my doubt tied up in how I feel about myself? Am I harder on myself that I am on other people? Sacred Space 2017 says: “Are the doors of my heart locked? Do I not expect Jesus to show up and visit me? Am I afraid, afraid that my well-ordered ways of thinking and doing things might be turned upside down if I let Jesus in? Brave, honest Thomas had gone off to grieve on his own, so he missed that meeting with the Lord. I have suffered in this way when I isolated myself from the community of faith. It is when I am stunned by sorrow that I most need the company of friends and the support of faith