OMELIE / Omelie EN

08 apr 2018

08/04/2018  2nd Sunday of Easter - B

08/04/2018  2^nd Sunday of Easter - B

Sunday of Divine Mercy

Reading 1, Acts 4,32-35 * Psalm 117 * Reading 2, First John 5,1-6 * Gospel, John 20,19-31

In the past, the newly-baptized would have worn this Sunday too the white garments they had received in occasion of their baptism during Easter Vigil. This is the reason why this Sunday is called “in albis” (=dressed in white garments)! The joy of the Baptism needs to be expressed throughout our entire life, fill every moment, excite questions in everyone who meets us! Whoever is not stubborn in rejecting the faith will receive signs in order to welcome the truth and the joy of the true faith!

Today’s readings are talking about faith, true faith bearing plenty of fruits.

Jesus, appearing to the Twelve, notices Thomas among them. The former was stubbornly refusing to take part in his friends’ joy because he did not want to recognize the reason for it. Why they, previously disheartened and frightened, are now joyful and trustful? They met the risen Lord! He had greeted them with peace and forgiveness, He had given to them the task to keep His works going through breathing in them His Spirit. Their joy was the proof of their story. Thomas however was stubbornly asking for seeing and touching. Now his face is dark and sad.

But now, eight days after that first encounter, still the first day after the Sabbath, here Jesus is, again. It looks like He can see only Thomas. After the usual benediction, He turns first of all to him and He allows what he was asking for. Gently, but at the same time firmly, Jesus makes him aware of the fact that he should have acted differently: he could have been humble and given credit to his fellow disciples. With this remark and with the following declaration, the Lord is pushing us not to follow too much the inclinations of pride and reason. The faith, to believe, is a behavior that makes our life full and great! Faith in God’s power and the presence of the risen Jesus sustain us and cheer us up in the challenges that we have to face constantly.

Our believing, even if it is based on humility, it is not without a foundation on reason, it is not foolishness! Our faith is firmly based on real facts, not on imagination or fantasies. The facts necessary in order to sustain our faith are written down by eyewitnesses, who do not give testimony only in words, but also with the transformation of their lives!

The first reading tells us about a new reality, beginning among those who believe: among them exists a brotherhood, the love that fosters family relationships. Who believes that Jesus has risen really knows how to search for the things from above, and how to use those already on this earth while keeping the new commandment given by the Lord: “Love one another, as I have loved you”! In this way they make life on Earth beautiful and worth living!

The second reading picks up the topic and continues to show faith as the victory that overcomes the world, the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This faith is fruitful: it fosters in us love for God and true love for the neighbor, the love that proves that our new life is coming from the Living God! Love is the true victory over every type of selfishness that reigns in the world, suffocating life and joy and blocking communion and harmony among men.

True faith is based on the risen Jesus, and from Him comes that deep love that we call forgiveness. In breathing the Holy Spirit over the Twelve, Jesus gives them the most beautiful and necessary duty: to pour God’s mercy over men! Whoever wants, they will be able to recognize their sins and to receive forgiveness. This is the task that the Church was given in this day by the lips of its Lord, and that it continued to administer and always will. Whoever turns to any of the Twelve in order to renew his faith in Jesus giving up his sin, this one will get another proof of His resurrection, and with the newly-found joy he will give testimony to it!

Today is the day of the faith in Jesus, and the day of the Father’s mercy! The Father has given Jesus to the sinful men in order to get them back as children, and Jesus, in rising from the dead, sends in the entire world those with the faculty to spread forgiveness and peace among whoever believes in Him!

The Church will continue to gather the Eighth Day, in order to receive this duty anew, the joy, the peace, the forgiveness and the Holy Spirit! The Eighth Day is the day in which the faith of the Church and of every faithful in it keeps being born and renewed! Hallelujah!