2nd Sunday of Easter Homily

Jesus preached repentance, meaning change the way we see and act:  Go in a different direction.
The Resurrection is the epitome of repentance:  is moves us to see differently, so that we can experience the fullness of life.
The Resurrection is about inviting us to see ourselves and life differently
The Resurrection changes the direction of our lives.
See our Gospel passage this day.
The disciples see the Risen Lord; they have had their first experience of the Resurrection, but...it is still incomplete.  They “only” see a Risen Jesus.
Thomas sees the Risen Lord, and sees more.  
He sees the Reality of God in Jesus.
Thomas makes THE most profound statement of the Gospels.  He equates Jesus as God.
What helped him to see?  
I don’t think it was just seeing the wounds.  Something else occurred, or actually did not occur, depends on our perspective.
What did Jesus NOT do to Thomas...He did not punish him for his doubts.  He did show mercy.  
I think this is what transformed Thomas, and opened his eyes to the reality of all that Jesus is.
Thomas saw the wounds of Jesus, and he saw mercy in Jesus, in God.
I think everything clicked into place, the whole of Jesus’ life and preaching finally made sense to Thomas.
He saw God.   
And clearly the whole of Thomas’ life was changed after that!
Resurrection is to make us see differently; to truly See God and experience God.
Yet, one of our biggest challenges to seeing God and experiencing God...our obstinance, our narrow vision.  We think we know God.
I encounter people who can only see God as the harsh judge, who punishes us for our mistakes.
The God who demands payment of time, prayer and blind obedience, in exchange for grace; for salvation.
A God who loves us only when we follow the the rules and regulations.
These people are not happy.  
I see in them lives of fear, or anger, or sadness: very little capacity to the beauty that surrounds them.  They seem to see very little love in this world.
Jesus’ paschal Mystery changes that all.  It reveals to us the reality of God.
If Jesus was not angry and vengeful at the disciples for what had happened...
If God did not take revenge on humanity for executing his beloved Son, then God is clearly not interested in punishment at all, nor in defining us by our rules and regulations.
So why do so many of us persist in this?  Why do we still believe in this, and then live this out?  Why do we doubt the mercy of God?
We cause so much suffering because of this.  We experience so much suffering because of this.
See, if God is the punisher, the harsh judge, then we allow ourselves that as well.  
We exact our revenge on others, with our passive aggressiveness, with our outright violence, with ignoring them and their needs.
And the other part is that we think God does not punish us enough, so we end up self-inflicting punishment.  
Which is really a rejection of Jesus Christ!
It is so sad.  
This is NOT life.
This is not what Jesus came for, lived for, died for and was raised from the dead for.
He came so that we would have life, and have it in the full.
To see that there is Life through living as humble persons:  comprehending that we are children of God, The Father who loves us beyond our comprehend.  
And if children, we are but NOT God.  Therefore no need to try to control everything.
To see how Life comes through forgiveness.
To see how life comes through generosity, even to the level of giving of ourselves, and not expecting repayment.
There is so much life here.
There is so much life to see.
Eucharist calls us to this.  Eucharist is Christ calling us to see reality anew; seeing beyond the superficialities, to the depth.  Calling us to see beyond the bread and wine, to see his very person.
If that, then we too can see God’s love being poured into our world at all moments,
We too can see ourselves changed by that love; to live in love with others.

There is so much life out there and it is given to us.  If only we are willing to let go and Trust in God, to see God differently?

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