Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)

         Signs ... they are discussed in today’s readings. And over the years, humans have developed many different kinds of signs to communicate important messages. Some signs welcome us or offer comfort. Others indicate restrictions and warnings. Our lives are filled with signs ... on streets ... on buildings and vehicles ...  even on roadside benches. Identifying, reading (and some cases promptly ignoring) signs is one of the basic skills we all learn from the earliest months of our lives. There is a song by the Five Man Electrical Band from the 1960’s which was remade in the 1980’s that discusses them. There are those scattered throughout this Church complex ... from the ones at the driveways that tell you where to enter or exit or the ones that indicate handicapped parking or not to use the doors that are emergency exits only.

---

Entrance Antiphon: 1 Pt 2:2 – “Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in Him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.”

First Reading: Acts 5:12-16 – “More than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.”

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 – “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love is everlasting.”

Second Reading: Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 – “I was dead, but now I am alive for ever and ever.”

Alleluia: Jn 20:29 – “You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen Me, says the Lord; blessed are they who have not seen Me, but still believe!”

Gospel: Jn 20:19-31 – “Eight days later Jesus came and stood in their midst.”

Communion Antiphon: Jn 20:27 – “Bring your hand and feel the place of the nails, and do not be unbelieving but believing, alleluia.”

---

Most every local or state government has a place where signs are made, sold, and stored. When you visit those locations, you’re likely to find that most of what they produce are street and highway signs. Many of them will have posted speed limits or indications of crosswalks and school zones. You’ll find signs that say, “No Parking” and others that identify bike routes or bus stops. Some identify areas of road construction with images of men or women working or tell us to turn off our cell phones. Perhaps the most recognizable sign is the red octagon that says simply says, “Stop.”

         So having said all that … Can a person be a sign?

         Jesus Christ ... our Risen Lord ... our Savior ... our Messiah ... came to show us the way to God through the way He lived and the way that He died. During His earthly ministry, He pointed us to His Father through His teachings ... through the example He offered of how He treated others ... and through actions that His followers identified as “signs and wonders.” He Himself was a sign.

         The Apostles themselves also worked many signs and wonders in the name of Jesus the Nazorean … Jesus the Christ. Even after He was no longer with them, the Apostles carried on the work that He started. We’ve been hearing about these signs and will continue to hear about them throughout the Easter season. The disciples continued to gather in places where Jesus had taught, such as Solomon’s Portico at the Temple of Jerusalem. Saint Luke’s story in the Acts of the Apostles recounts how the community of believers began to grow steadily as more and more people came to believe ... as they saw the signs ... and as they changed. These early followers began to revere the community’s leaders, even bringing the sick to places where Peter’s shadow could fall on them. Crowds began to come to Jerusalem so they could be healed of whatever was troubling them. And many of these people became witnesses ... martyrs ... saints ... signs ... for their belief.

         From our hearing the Gospels over the years, we know that the glorified Jesus appeared to believers on many occasions. The author of the Book of Revelation was one of the early preachers of the Gospel. Although attributed to John, this particular “John” was probably not the Apostle but rather a disciple of the Apostle. He was on the Greek island of Patmos, possibly in exile, because of his role in spreading the faith. John experienced the presence of Jesus in a powerful way. The Book of Revelation is a dramatic account of the author’s experience of the risen Lord.

         Further, we know that Jesus made His presence known to those who believe in Him. Following the death of Jesus, the disciples were afraid and locked themselves away. Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples to calm their fear. The risen Lord twice gave the disciples a greeting of “Peace be with you.” Jesus commissioned the disciples to carry on His work of forgiving sins. And we all know the story of doubting Thomas. He was not present during Jesus’ first appearance and expressed a need to see some proof of what had happened. At a later date, he got his wish. While the disciples were all together ... this time with Thomas ... Jesus appeared … a sign yet again. Thomas immediately recognized Jesus and responded with the most profound profession of faith ever uttered ... “My Lord and my God.” And Jesus responds, “Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed!”

         And guess what? Jesus continues to reveal Himself today! He continues to be a sign. Jesus was physically present to those who followed Him and heard Him preach. Those who followed Jesus saw Him provide signs and wonders. Following the Resurrection, the disciples and other followers of Jesus were reassured by His numerous appearances. And we too can be reassured. Those who want to see Jesus can still know His presence today. But how exactly do we do that?  We need to stretch. We need to get out of our comfort zones and become active in our faith. So, on this Second Sunday of Easter ... this Divine Mercy Sunday, let me ask you this:

• Is there any aspect of your faith which, although you probably certainly don’t deny ... you don’t fully live either?

• Could it be that the reason you don’t live that aspect of your faith is that you are too comfortable with where you are right now? ... In other words, are you unwilling to fully live your faith because it would require more change ... because it might require more effort than you’ve been willing to give?

• Could it be that you don’t want the attention ... could it be that you yourself don’t want to be or become a sign?

We can experience the loving and healing presence of Jesus through our daily interactions with others. We can help show God’s presence to others by the way we live. We can help to show God's presence to others by what we say ... by how we act ... by how we treat others. As Christians, we are challenged to live our faith to its fullest ... to be signs of Jesus to others and for others. And I’m not standing here saying it’s going to be easy or that I’ve got a handle on it. It’s a challenge for me ... I’m sure it’s a challenge for each of you. Just because I’m a Priest doesn’t make me any less human than you are. No one has ever said that being a Christian ... being a Catholic is easy. Read the stories of the saints. Just look back to the events of Good Friday at what He endured for each and every one of us.

         The early followers of Jesus saw signs and wonders during His earthly life and following His resurrection. Today, people of faith continue to see such signs of God’s presence in our world. The gift of the Eucharist ... which we share every day ... not just on Sundays ... is the ultimate sign of God’s presence and a celebration of our unity as people of faith. Now I say that and that’s what we’re taught, but how many of you truly believe that? How many of you believe in the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist? How many believe that when you received the consecrated Host in your hand or on your tongue, you're receiving God Himself? And how many believe that after you've consumed the consecrated Host, you have God inside of you? How many of you believe that as we worship together and celebrate Mass, Jesus appears in our midst and offers the same reassurance ... the same healing and the same forgiveness He gave to the early Disciples. We need to open our hearts to the signs and wonders God has given us in this world around us. We need to open our hearts to the signs and wonders God has given to us through Jesus. Remember that it is through our worship and praise and through living our faith day-in and day-out that we become signs of God’s presence in our world. It is by what you say ... by what you do ... and by how you treat others. And so, my prayer for each of you today is this:

"May each of you, when called upon by the Lord, be able to say 'My Lord and my God' with the same faith and conviction that Thomas did that day in the upper room. May each of us be a sign of Christ in this world." Amen.