THE JOURNEY THROUGH DOUBTS TO FAITH

Deacon Hosea Bennett

Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)

“We have seen the Lord.” (Jn 20:19-31)         

We as Catholic Christians should be very thankful for the salvation our Lord has won for us through his death and Resurrection.

Today’s readings on this Second Sunday of Easter teach us how this approach should play out in our daily life, and remind us that we can have complete trust in the mercy of God to lead us, step by step, to heaven.

Our first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, describes this beautifully. The first Christians, "... devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” And, “They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.”

This is a picture of the very first community of Christians living out their daily life — embracing prayer, formation, hospitality, and mutual service. What an inspiration it is for us modern-day Catholic Christians.

The Easter season is not the time to let up in the practice of our faith now that Lent is behind us. Rather, it is a time to live our faith with deeper joy and gratitude as we relax in the celebration of our Lord’s victory over sin and death for us.

Certainly, it is hard to live for heaven when the things of the earth — job stress, family crises, health troubles, political strife — bombard us each day. We can find ourselves becoming cynical like the Apostle Thomas, in our Gospel passage today, until we encounter the merciful Savior.

At times, we can be like the Apostle Thomas in today’s Gospel, struggling to believe amid disappointment and uncertainty.  He was absent when Jesus first appeared to the other Apostles after the Resurrection, and he refused to accept their testimony that they had “seen the Lord."

He insisted that he would not believe unless he placed his finger into the nail marks and his hand into Christ’s side.  Yet, these doubts did not repel our Lord. They actually drew Him to Thomas in an unexpected way.  Jesus saw beyond the doubt to the pain beneath it.  He did not condemn Thomas, but calmed his fears and told him to touch his Sacred Wounds.

Amazing grace indeed!

So, when we are tempted to doubt, we need only seek the Lord in prayer, in the sacraments, and through the help and encouragement of our Christian community.  Just as He did for Thomas, our Lord will mercifully restore our Easter vision and fill us with his joy and peace.

Amen

Author: Deacon Hosea Bennett

Church: Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church, Savannah, Ga.

Contact info: bvmary54@gmail.com