Saturday, April 22, 2006
2nd Sunday of Easter
April 23, 2006
2nd Sunday of Easter - B
ACTS 4:32-35
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one
claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had
everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or
houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at
the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according
to need.
1 JOHN 5:1-6
Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by
God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by
him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love
God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we
keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for
whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that
conquers the world is our faith. Who indeed is the victor over the
world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is
the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water
alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
JOHN 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were
locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had
said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be
with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had
said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy
Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you
retain are retained." Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was
not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We
have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the
nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand
into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were
again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors
were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and
bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but
believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus
said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Now Jesus did
many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written
in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you
may have life in his name.
REFLECTION
Seven days have already passed since Easter Sunday, and life seems
suddenly all so ordinary again. We're back to our daily routine at the
office or in the homes.
This does not mean that Easter was a dream. The focus is now not simply
on Christ but more obviously on us. Precisely this is the lesson, the
labor of love today's liturgy lays on you and me.
How make this real, how do we light it up, how shape it into a song you
and I can sing today? By digging into the passages from Scripture that
keynote today's liturgy. We see three scenes, and in each a community
holds the key: Jesus' own disciples; the Jerusalem community after
Pentecost; the Christian community to which you and I belong now.
First, Jesus' own disciples: It is a puzzling picture John's Gospel
presents on Resurrection day. John has outraced Peter to the tomb,
finding it empty, "he saw and believed." Mary Magdalene has also
declared to the disciples "I have seen the Lord." But the disciples
were hiding behind locked doors, frightened and afraid. Suddenly, Jesus
in their midst.
First, he greets them, "Peace to you," which assures the disciples they
have nothing to fear from this unexpected intrusion. More importantly,
"Peace" fulfills what Jesus promised so solemnly at the Last Supper
discourse: "Peace is my farewell to you. My peace is my gift to you.
And I do not give it to you as the world gives it. Do not let your
hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. You have heard me tell you 'I
am going away' and 'I am coming back to you." (John 14: 27-28) No
wonder at the sight of the Lord the disciples rejoiced.
Second, move now to the Jerusalem community after Pentecost. Many of
the old familiar faces are still there: Peter and John, Thomas and
Matthew, the women, who had followed Jesus so faithfully to Calvary
itself - and, of course his mother, Mary. But the community mushroomed,
3,000 baptized in a single day, unnumbered believers added day after
day. Of these, Scripture should have startled you with that sentence:
"There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of
lands or house sold them, and brought the proceeds of the sale laid it
at the apostles' feet. And distribution was made to each as any had
need."(Acts 4:23-25)
So, if the community that cowered in fear behind locked doors
proclaimed a fundamental faith, "My Lord and my God," the community
that burst those bolts to be fired by the Spirit fanned that faith into
flame - a faith alive for one another: "There was not a needy person
among them."
Those two communities lead into the Christian community face to face
with you and me today. How can we keep Easter alive? Fix our minds on
faith and works, on "My Lord and my God" and "There was not a needy
person among them."
Such is our post-Easter task. Stir those Easter embers till they glow;
stir them by touching love to sheer knowledge. If we want inspiration,
turn to the pages of the Scripture. Once your faith comes alive, the
love that enkindles it will tell you where God wants you to work it
out. Then the works will follow. "Easter is for forever." If your faith
is fired by love, and your love brings you out to the needy among you,
to the needy beyond you.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
- for the personal intentions of Charles & Cheryl C.
- for the speedy recovery of Untoy.
- may the Holy Spirit guide David on his discernment.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Gloria C. Yu
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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� 2006 Daily-Homily
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