[ Readings: Acts 5:12-16 | Psalm 118 | Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 | John 20:19-31 ]
[__01] We have just read the Gospel appearance of
Jesus to the apostles, and to Thomas. At
first Thomas is absent. Later, Thomas is present.
What is the importance
of our presence -- or our absence – physically?
Say, we are talking
about a class tomorrow. Tomorrow,
Monday, you are I have a class. How important is our presence?
Maybe we need to check
the syllabus, or class requirements. Does the teacher or professor grade us on
“class participation”?
[__02] Or, in the workplace environment – we might
ask if the manager/supervisor notices our timeliness, our punctuality, our
presence. If so, then being present is in our favor.
On the other hand,
some of us may work in a different environment, we may run the business …. Or teaching, we may
run the classroom. In such a situation,
nevertheless, participation and punctuality are still important.
The student would
notice, the customer would notice.
[__03] How important is presence, is punctuality for
Thomas the Apostle?
We might say .. well,
not very … he missed the whole appearance and presentation by Jesus the first time.
We might wonder if
Thomas will suffer some penalty – academically, professionally, spiritually –
for his absence?
[__04] Is
this a setback?
In the journey of
faith, the journey to know our Risen Savior,
yes the ABSENCE is a setback, a hindrance for Thomas.
Thomas is being told
by the others – but he did not actually see or hear for himself.
[__05] There is a value to “class
participation”. There is a value to
presence.
Immediately after an
absence, what would professors of Fairleigh Dickinson expect us to do?
The faculty
expectation – the professor’s expectation is this. They would expect
students are often
expected to get up to speed by borrowing the notebook of a classmate – by
finding out what was covered last week, what was the homework so as to be ready
for this week.
Teachers, professors,
as we know, have a syllabus, a timeline. And, if we were to miss a class, the
professor would expect us to catch up by turning to friends or classmates.
This is not Thomas’s
method. Thomas really is not very
interested in the opinions of the others.. of his “classmates”, or what is in
their notebooks.
Thomas has his own
ideas, his own “syllabus” and, probably, a very specific notion of what should
be on the final exam.
In the person of
Thomas, we see our own preconceptions,preconceived ideas, our own stubbornness
reflected.
[__06] What is the importance of our
presence? Say, in a lecture hall or
classroom, at school, high school, or college.
In a classroom, we are
also called to leave behind some of our preconceived notion. Yes, we are called
to read, prepare..but also to be open to the teacher’s presentation of the
material.
In such an
environment, we learn not only by taking notes, or memorizing, but also by
listening to the questions and comments of our classmates.
And, we risk … by
asking questions ourselves.
We learn by observing
the questions that we had not yet considered.
We also learn – and
grow in our faith – by considering the questions and struggles of others –
struggles of marriage, children, family, health, finances…
In a classroom, we
also learn by contributing, by asking questions..even questions that might
reveal that we have fallen behind.
In our prayer, we also
bring our questions and confusion to God also.
We participate in this
when we admit our sinfulness.
This Sunday is
observed as Divine Mercy Sunday in which Jesus
Jesus speaks explicitly about
the forgiveness of sins in his name, through the sacrament of penance and
reconciliation. Coming to Jesus in this sacrament, you and I would reveal
times we have "fallen" or "fallen behind". Yet, we
are also know that God wants to strengthen us, with absolution and with
forgiveness.
[__07] Thomas the Apostle is only a little bit
ready for this “class participation” and presence.
In this Gospel, the Lord invited Thomas and you and
me to leave behind our preconceived notions of where Jesus is …
He is not only in the
Upper Room in a resurrection appearance. This is what Thomas wants ..what he “requires.”
The Good News is that the Lord appears to him.
More importantly,
risen from the dead, Jesus is present in in the Church, in mercy and love and
in relationships…
[__08] Jesus is also present when we try to imitate
him. This is our class participation.
It means, for example,
· _____ Seeking
out, befriending someone who may be unpopular or ignored or isolated.
· ______Avoiding
harsh words, avoiding words and actions that can belilttle or demean others …. Even
avoding demeaning words to someone who has actually done us something wrong,
some injustice.
· _______Listening
to our parents … doing what they say,
even if they are not going to reward us immediately for following along. Our
reward is the participation itself.
· _______As
a believer in the Risen Savior, it means also putting the wounds, the
difficulties or needs others ahead of my own… putting their nailmarks before my
own.
[__09] Also, for Thomas, for you, for me, it
means putting aside … postponing our desire to SEE, to KNOW … exactly what the
final grade is going to be.
Participate ..
Take up your cross and
follow me, Jesus says.
Blessed are those who
have not seen and have believed. (John 20:31) [__fin___]
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