Reflection on the Second Sunday of Easter

There is richness to ponder in statements in today’s readings. In the Acts of the Apostles, “The community of believers was of one heart and mind.”

“With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”

In the letter of John, “When we love the children of God we love God.” 

And in the Gospel, “As the Father has sent me I send you.”

Also in this Gospel , the resurrected Jesus is showing the disciples the wounds of his suffering, asking them to believe.

Mark tells us the disciples have already felt fear and disbelief. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and she shared with companions of Jesus that He had appeared to her. “When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.”  Now Thomas is present as Jesus is showing the disciples the wounds of his suffering asking them to believe. Like Thomas, if we’re honest, we have doubts at times. Joan Chittister shares that doubt stretches us beyond ourselves to the guidance of God, whose face is not always in books. Doubt is what leaves us open to truth, wherever it is, however difficult it is to accept. It is in the darkness of doubt that is the beginning to real faith.

What do I need in order to believe, to have faith?

Am I willing to touch the wounds, the wounded and experience the suffering? Jesus invited Thomas to get close to him, to touch.  He is saying, “I am risen and the wounds remain.”

As I prepare this homily, 10 people have just died in Boulder, another Colorado mass shooting.  This follows the eight killed in Georgia — all within a week. Are these the wounds still present in the risen Christ?

Thousands are coming to our southern border walking, thirsty, sending their children (our children) in hope for a new life, a compassionate response.

Our physical touch has been limited by a pandemic.  Some have died, others are wounded in ways unseen. Now it is Easter, springtime and an opening up of our communities. We may hug now at times no longer through glass or plastic. We receive what are called “stimulus checks.” Will this time truly be a stimulus to a new response to each other, to our world? Will we be “stimulated” to work even harder to act for peace?

We have examples of steps. Recently, due to efforts of some Loretto Community members, the Denver City Council voted in support of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a message, a stimulus to others, to speak up against the nuclear threat.

How might I be a stimulus for energetic and prayerful actions on behalf of justice and compassion?  The Gospel reminds us, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

We recall the Resurrection and the Passion. If we want to know Jesus, he is inviting us to reach out now, touch people and touch the wounds still present. We are being sent. I was struck by a bold headline in the Denver Post on March 25 which stated, “A big part of healing is being with the community!”

Joyce Rupp ponders, “Every year the dull and dead in us meets our Easter challenge: to be open to the unexpected, to believe beyond our security, to welcome God in every form and trust in our own greening.” She suggests that we don’t focus enough on tomb time, the liminal waiting period. It can remind us of Jesus’ time of darkness and defeat. Only after this came new life and hope from the Easter story. It is then Jesus visits the disciples with a commissioning to go forth with their new belief.

What are our learnings from this liminal time of the pandemic? Victor Frankl states, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space.” And in that space lies our power to choose. And in our choice lies our growth and our freedom. We have experienced the deaths of our Community members. Our numbers in Loretto are lessening.  Our transformation is upon us.

As Adam Horowitz also tells us, the past year has been our tomb time, a gateway from one world to the next. 

As Loretto we must: Honor our grief, name what we have learned and observed, and be intentional on what we want to make new.

Amanda Gorman, the inauguration poet shared,

“When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid

The new dawn blooms as we free it

For there is always light

If only we’re brave enough to see it

If only we’re brave enough to be it.”