Second Sunday of Easter April 3, 2005

Acts 2: 42-47 1 Peter 1: 3-9 John 20: 19-31

As some of you might suspect, I am old enough to recall some of the elements or traditions of Catholic practice and liturgy which predate the Second Vatican Council. For example, it came to my mind the other day that this particular Sunday, the Sunday immediately following Easter, was known as ADominica in albis dispositis@ or, simply, ADominica in albis@. This is translated as ASunday of the white garments put away.@ This meant that those who had been baptized at Easter, who had been given white robes to wear when they appeared in the community, were now to put away these garments. In the English missals of times past, the title given to this day was ALow Sunday.@ What was suggested by this title was that, in contrast with the fanfare and celebration of Easter Sunday, the liturgy for this day was toned down, it was more like a return to the normal routine.

It was with these thoughts in mind that I reflected on the Word of God which we have heard today. In the gospel of St. John we heard the very familiar story of Thomas, the story which gives rise to the expression, Adoubting Thomas.@ Rather than focus on the progression of Thomas from doubt to faith, however, we can understand his experience as a representation of what all of the followers of Jesus went through following the Resurrection. They had all been observers of the arrest, torture and death of Jesus. They had been so affected by these events that they were hiding behind locked doors. Now they had heard rumors or reports that Jesus had risen, his body was not in the tomb. And then he is in their midst. Thomas missed out at the time of the first appearance of Jesus. He doubted as the others may have doubted when they heard the first reports. But then, a week later, he experienced the presence of the Risen Lord with the others. He saw, he touched, he believed - just as the other had done. All of those who were part of that experience were empowered by the Spirit given to them by the Lord. They were to go out and bring about the reconciliation between God and mankind.

The effect of that experience is evident in the example of Peter in what he wrote and in what he preached. He invites all who hear or read what he has to say to join in the belief of Jesus raised from the dead. He encourages them to consider the testimony of those who have experienced the Resurrection. He calls upon them to join in the praise of God for the hope which this belief brings, the outlook on life which the believers possess which enables them to face rejection and persecution with confidence because Christ has overcome even death itself.

This experience and belief had such an effect on the followers of Jesus that it changed their way of life. The lived in a manner described by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. Their lives, their way of living, reflected four identifiable qualities or elements: listening to the teaching of Apostles; life in common; breaking of the bread; prayers. These are the four marks or indications or elements present in the lives of those who believe in God and the Resurrection of Jesus. These same four marks or indications or qualities are found even now, two millennia later, in our religious practice, in the living out of our faith commitment which we renewed in our celebration at Easter.

We find these essential elements of the Christian community when we gather at the Eucharist. We hear what the apostles, the evangelists and the other writers reveal to us of their experiences and inspirations as communications to us by our God in the scriptures. We share in a common life, not in a literal or strict sense, but in the efforts we make to support our parish community and school, respond to the various needs and causes which are undertaken though the year, and assist in specific activities like Catholic Charities or our own food collection. We gather together for the breaking of the bread on the first day of the week. This is essential for the life of the Christian community: to come together in Eucharist and she in God=s presence with us in the Body and Blood of Christ. Finally, we pray, as a community and individually. We enter into a dialogue with God and acknowledge before God and one another: praise, contrition, gratitude and need.

These activities are the Anormal routine@ in which we engage week after week. They are the Anormal routine@ which enlivens and strengthens each of us and all of us together. What the early Christian community did, we still do in understanding our faith in God, in our wonder at God=s loving goodness to us, and in the praise and glory we give to God for the experience that is ours of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead.