Second Sunday of Easter, April 7th, 2013
Today’s readings speak to us about faith, specifically Easter Faith. Easter Faith comes from us believing that the empty tomb means that Jesus has risen. Often times in Jesus’s teaching, He uses symbolism or parables related to farming or the agrarian culture of the time. Well most of us don’t farm, but we do value a nice lawn. This time of year we see many commercials encouraging us to buy a product to make our lawn better. Scott’s lawn care products have a new commercial which features a Scottish man named, of course, Scott. It is quite a clever commercial since who would know more about making grass green then a Scottish man! The actor has a fun accent that draws in the viewer as he says, “Feed your lawn. Feed it!”
He was “cut to the heart” in discovering Christian captivesSt. Peter Nolasco was shocked and moved in finding Christians held captive and in danger of losing their faith. Read more about his heroic life and what he did about it on the website of the .
Visit the Mercedarians’
Nourish Your Soul
Naturally, beautifully green grass requires proper nourishment and effort. So does our faith. Many people think that faith is just something that you have or you don’t. People often say, “Father, I just don’t have faith.” It seems as though they think it is given to some in their genes, but not to others. But, faith is a gift. It is given freely by God to all who ask for it with a sincere heart. We cannot merit or earn our faith. Faith is not just about emotions or feelings it is based on facts such as the Nicene Creed which was composed 325 AD. As Catholic’s we believe that our faith is logical and is ordered in such a way that it can be perceived through nature and philosophy. God is perfect beauty and Order which can be seen in all His creation.
In a real sense we must constantly “feed” our faith. We must study the faith through reading and meditating; asking the Lord to constantly increase our faith. God could just give us the faith, but that would not enable us to use our freedom. He wants us to open our minds and hearts to the mystery which is spread before us in nature and divine revelation. We can see this if we ask for and develop “eyes to see”.
Believe Without Seeing
St Thomas in our Gospel today struggles to believe. He must have “tangible proof”. Jesus provides this proof for him, but warns that it is better to find the Lord by reaching out as a free choice into the mystery. We grow in faith by “feeding” it constantly through prayer, reading, and openness to God, who most often chooses to work through the ordinary. St. Thomas began as a failure, but becomes a man of great faith who takes the Easter Faith all the way to India. Ultimately, St Thomas’s journey ends in martyrdom for the Faith that he once doubted.
Do More Then Just Get By
Many of us lack faith and just go through most of our lives just “getting by”. Those who are weak in faith will be tested as life gets difficult. These people often fall victim to two things: presumption or despair. Presumption is presuming God will forgive us or that whatever sins we commit are “no big deal”. But, sin is a big deal, so big that the Son of God had to die an excruciating death to make atonement for it! Next we have despair or to lose all hope. When death, sufferings, or struggles comes those who lack faith may despair. They often doubt that God cares about them, has the power to help them, or that He even exists.
The Image of the Divine Mercy presents for us is Jesus in a white robe with rays of white and red bursting forth from His wounded side. These rays are God’s mercy, which flowed from the wounded side of Christ on the cross. The white symbolizes the waters of baptism which wash away our sins. The red is the Eucharist which gives us strength and nourishment for the journey. The wounded side of Christ is open for all of us. But without faith we will not be able to turn to Christ for mercy. So let us “feed” our relationship with the Risen Lord. Jesus opens his wounded side for us, but we must come to Him with Easter faith. We grow in faith by feeding our faith. Let’s allow it to grow in us today and always beg for it by saying, “Lord, increase my faith!”