(Divine Mercy Sunday)

     Jesus offers peace to the Apostles 3 times in today’s Gospel. “Peace Be With You.”  It wasn’t just a greeting, but one of the most precious gifts God can give, the gift of peace.  And the Apostles were in dire need of God’s peace. They had just spent 3 years following Jesus. He had become their friend, and their teacher. They had listened to his teachings, witnessed many miracles. They didn’t always understand Jesus, in fact they were probably confused more often than not, but they had slowly come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, having come to save God’s Holy People. And now they had just witnessed him being handed over to the Romans, tortured and then crucified. They didn’t know what to think anymore. They didn’t know what the future held for them. They were in fear of their own lives, hiding in a locked room, wondering what to do next.  Yes, the Apostles were in great need of God’s Peace, when Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst, and said: “Peace be with you.”, calming their fears, and they rejoiced.

     How often do we find our own lives in turmoil; in need of God’s Peace; at the loss of a job, a divorce, the sudden death of a loved one, or an extended illness. There are maybe times that we feel abandoned, just like the Apostles at the beginning of today’s Gospel—–after Jesus’ death. We all need God’s peace in our lives. Sometimes we just become more acutely aware of that fact. The good news is that we can have that peace.  We are all heirs to the gift of God’s peace; and it’s there for us whenever we need it. We just need to ask for it and put our trust in God. As Jesus told Thomas in the Gospel, “Do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Then like any other gift from God, it’s not meant to be held onto, but to share with others. We never know who desperately needs it, when someone around us may be suffering—-and maybe silently.  At every Mass we’re given that opportunity to share with each other “A Sign of Christ’s Peace.” But we can’t let it just be empty words.  Our living faith calls us to action; to spread God’s peace to those around us.

     Without realizing it, the Apostles had just graduated, and were being sent into the world for the next phase of their lives, just like when we graduate from school. This is the time of year when there are many people that are getting ready for graduation. How many of us remember our own graduations; high school graduation or college graduation; that moment in time when we’re done with our official academic studies that lead us to the next phase of our life; the time of making the final preparations to go out into the world and put our newfound knowledge to good use? It’s a time of change in our lives and it can be a time of turmoil; just like the Apostles were going through. I don’t know about you, but I don’t recall any of my teachers or professors being crucified, and I don’t remember being in fear of my life, but it was an exciting, and scary time of life, wondering what lies ahead.

     That’s what we hear in today’s Gospel; we hear of the Apostle’s graduation. They had just taken their final exams; and let’s face it they didn’t exactly pass with flying colors. In fact, one of them failed all together, (Judas). We hear in today’s Gospel of Thomas failing one test, but after a retake he finally passes. And now the Apostles are being sent forth into the world, being commissioned.  “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Instead of a diploma, they received other gifts to help them on their journey. First and foremost was Peace. Without God’s peace in their lives, and ours, the rest of the journey is nearly impossible. Then Jesus breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Christ himself, in body, would soon leave the Apostles, but he leaves with them, and with us, God’s Holy Presence, a presence that was badly needed in the world. A presence that was lost when Adam & Eve separated themselves from God in the Garden of Eden. In going to the Apostles immediately after he rose from the dead, and breathing on them, Christ was restoring God’s presence with us once again. What was lost in the Garden of Eden, was restored in the Resurrection. Each one of us, through our baptism, and through the sacrament of confirmation also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to sustain us on our Christian journey.

     Jesus also confers to the Apostles, the power to forgive sins.  “Who’s sins you forgive, are forgiven them, who’s sins you retain, are retained.”  We all make mistakes in our lives. We all sin. We all need a second chance at times, a chance to start over. That’s what the sacrament of reconciliation is all about. A second chance given to us when God restores us to the innocence we once had when we were baptized. Jesus first reconciled with the Apostles on that Easter morning, showing that even though they had turned their back on him, he would not turn his back on them. The Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ gives us the account of God starting out, all over again, putting the Garden of Eden behind us.

    In receiving that gift of forgiveness from God, we need to remember, however, that it too, is given to us in order that we might share it with others. We proclaim that, whenever we pray the “Our Father.”  “Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us.”   That can be very difficult sometimes. Sometimes we like to hold onto our grudges. Sometimes we feel we deserve to feel grumpy or mad at someone; but eventually our grudges become like a “millstone” around our neck.  I once read a quote that said: “To Forgive, Is To Set a Prisoner Free, and Discover That the Prisoner Was You.”   What a grace it is to receive forgiveness for something we’ve done or said, but what an even greater grace it is to forgive someone else. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit within us to share that gift of forgiveness.

     Then, we can’t forget the gift of Faith. Thomas received the gift of faith when he touched the wounds of Christ. But Jesus tells us, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” If it wasn’t for the gift of faith, we wouldn’t be here now.; but faith doesn’t come easy. Thomas doesn’t believe the other Apostles that Christ had appeared to them. He had to have proof. He’s often called “Doubting Thomas”; and it’s easy to sympathize with Thomas. Under the Same circumstances, we would probably have doubts also. And to be honest, doubt is necessary to survive in this world. If we believed everything we’re told, we’d be in trouble pretty quick. Doubt may be necessary, but it can also be dangerous. It may save us from believing a lie, but it can also keep us from believing the truth. Doubt about ultimate things such as our faith can create spiritual turmoil. A person who doesn’t know what to believe about God is like one who is lost and alone. And that doubt can be like a whirlpool that threatens to pull a person under. That’s why we must be especially thankful to God for the gift of faith. But we must nurture it through prayer, through scripture, through our celebration of the Eucharist, and especially through our sharing with others. 

     One of Christ’s greatest messages is about that of sharing. This Easter Season let us be witnesses in the world, to the Risen Christ, by sharing with others the great gifts that God has given us.