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On this second Sunday of
Easter we give thanks to God for the faith we have received from our
mother, the Church. We do not come to believe on our own. Faith comes to
us as a gift. First from God who calls us and then from those who went
before us and witnessed to the Risen Jesus in their lives and in ours.
Today we hear the story of Thomas who loved the Lord so much, that he
could not believe the story of the apostles who claimed to have seen the
Jesus alive. A few days earlier Thomas was willing to die with Christ on
the way to see Lazarus in Bethany. But the events of the Passion left
Thomas devastated. Instead of defending his Lord, he abandoned him.
Thomas was inconsolable. His solitary faith was not strong enough. In
his isolation, Thomas could not believe. It was only when he
returned to the apostolic community that Christ could heal his unbelief.
The same is true for us. When people ask, "why do I have to go to
church?" The answer should be obvious! Because we are the church! No
human being comes into this world by his or her own willing it, we are
born by the will of God and the cooperation of our parents. We
cannot grow up in isolation. We need the care and education of a family
to bring us to adulthood. So it is with our faith. When we are weak the
community of faith gives us strength. When we are strong we share that
faith with those who are in need.
During this Easter season we rejoice in the Good News of the
Resurrection. Let us remember that this is not our private good
news. Many generations of Christians have lived, suffered and died in
order to share the Good News with us. In this season we rejoice that we
are able to do the same. Think about something special you can do to
share your faith right now in your life. How can you be an apostle of
Jesus? How can you share the good news in your world?
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