Homily 2nd Sunday of Easter April 15, 2007

Theme: Be a sign of the risen Lord's presence and love

It must have been quite an experience for Jesus" first followers. They had lost faith in him because of his death on the cross. They were terrified of persecution from the Jewish religious leaders who had put Christ to death so they were locked behind closed doors in that upper room where only a few days ago they had celebrated with Jesus the Passover Meal which we now call the Last Supper. All the hope t: ley had put in Jesus was gone. They were in despair because the new meaning that had come into their lives because of Jesus had died on the cross with him. Then the risen Jesus appears right before their eyes and their lives are once again transformed. I wonder how that would affect us, if the risen Jesus were to appear here right before our eyes today.

But we're in the same position Thomas was in. He was not there when this marvelous event happened and neither were we. Of course, Jesus appeared a second time in the upper room just for Thomas and then he believed. That's when Jesus talked about us: "Blessed are those who nave not seen and yet have believed." We are among the millions and millions of Christians who have not seen the risen Jesus in the flesh and yet have believed. Why have we believed? Isn't it because we have seen signs of his risen presence among u? John says at the end of his Gospel: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may find life in his name." The four Gospels are recordings of the marvelous things that Jesus said and did that were signs that he was the Christ. That's why reading the Gospels prayerfully can be a source of nourishment for our faith.

But the marvelous works of God did not end with the Resurrection of Jesus. Jesus continues to do marvelous things among us and these are the even more important signs for us that he is risen and is indeed among us, even though we can't see him in the flesh.

When you wake up every morning, is that not a sign that God is doing marvelous things for you? We take for granted all the blessings that are everyday blessings. Thich Nhat Hahn, the famous Buddhist monk, once said, "Some say walking on water is a miracle. I say walking on this earth is a miracle." I would like to add, "Breathing is a miracle and seeing and hearing and touching and feeling are all miracles." We have to become more sensitive each day to the marvelous signs of God's presence and blessing in our lives.

When one of our families finally moves back into their home with immeasurable joy, is that not a sign that the risen Lord is present, giving them a new life? We are overcoming the destruction of Katrina. We are not defeated. We are finding new life. Is that not a sign of the risen Lord raising us from the death of these flood waters? That's why Baptism is such a powerful Easter Sacrament and emersion in the Baptismal pool so clear of sign of our dying and rising with Christ, not just at Baptism but again and again as each new crisis comes into our lives. And that's why we want to have a Baptismal pool right here in our church to remind us that we die with Christ over and over again but he always raises us to new life.

When we have guests from places like Holy Family Parish in Middletown, Maryland and Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Michigan who come here for a week to help rebuild the homes of parishioners and beautify our parish plant, is that not a sign of the risen Lord's presence and blessing among us? Would you like to know what they did this week? They painted walls in Lula Brown's home and Marigold Hardesty's home, installed sheetrock in George and Melba Robertson's home, hung doors in Leon and Vivian Gauthier's home and Lilly Brady's home, did yard work around David and Areah Bocage's home, laid floor tile in Victor Gordon's home, installed siding on Buddy Lewis' home, painted the walls and stairwells in our administration building, and hung and painted the door for the new ladies' rest room in church. To our guests we would like to say we are all so touched by your willingness to give up a week of your lives and go to all the expense and trouble to travel this far to reach out in loving solidarity and care for us in our time of need. You are the face of the risen Christ for us.

We could feel cheated, like Thomas might have felt initially, because we weren't there to see Christ risen in the flesh that first Sunday. But Jesus promised that we who have not seen and yet have believed will be blessed. And we have indeed been blessed by the countless signs of his risen presence among us and the endless blessings he bestows. Our faith that is nourished by these signs leads us to new life. It calls us also to bring new life to others by becoming signs ourselves of the risen Lord's presence and love. We do that by the way we reach out and bring a healing touch to the lives of others. With the Spirit of the risen Jesus living within us, we have the power to bring healing and comfort and strength to each other during these difficult times. Let us allow the risen Lord's presence to be manifest in us and be a sign to others that he has indeed risen from the dead and is alive within us.