27 April 2014 - encounter

27 April 2014 - encounter


Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

His love is indeed everlasting and yet we often find ourselves sympathizing with Thomas.  People tell us that suffering and circumstance has a deeper meaning.  People tell us that things are totally changed from how they were before.  But why have we been excluded?  We wonder if his love is really everlasting or if it applies more to those who see and believe.  And Thomas does eventually see and believe.  But Jesus tells us that his love is everlasting toward those who do not see but believe as well.  He wants those of us who don't see to believe just as much so that we may be blessed.  He wants all of us to say with Thomas, "My Lord and my God!"  We are told these things so that we may believe in Jesus, believe he is raised, and believe that everything is different now. He wants us to be blessed, and "have life in his name".  Even our suffering is not without meaning.

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

So how do we actualize this blessing? Just as Jesus comes to Thomas so too does he come to all of us.  We meet him in his Word, in his Mystical Body, and in the Eucharist.  This is the risen LORD!

They devoted themselves
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.

If we truly enter in to these we experience what the community of Acts experiences.

Awe came upon everyone,
and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

We experience a genuine encounter with Jesus Christ risen from the dead which can have no other explanation.

Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

And when we fail, when we doubt, he is ready to meet us there as well.  He meets Thomas in his doubt in order to establish a faith that he been tested and which now is strong enough to endure.  Through his presence in the Church he meets us in our doubts and failures to make us new again.

“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

So let our houses say, "His mercy endures forever."