Happy Easter tide. Today we conclude the “Octave of Easter”. It is the first week after this extraordinary moment in which God so loves the world that he sends his son to die for us sinners as if each of us is the only one. He then offers the resurrection to show us that nothing will separate us from the Love of God in Jesus Christ. We continue to remember the truth that our whole faith is based on this truth, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The octave allows us to celebrate the Easter mystery for eight days, repeating the prayers and the alleluias of the Easter Sunday liturgy (the only other octave we have is at Christmas, which of course celebrates the nativity of Jesus.). Today we also celebrate the Sunday of Divine Mercy. It is a day in which we remember what God wants to give us, as a response to our doubts, fears, and brokenness. Mercy and Peace. He then wants us to share this with everyone near and far.
Thomas, one of the stars of this Gospel, in some ways represents all of us. He is always looking for a concrete answer and is bold about asking. However, in this scene his brashness turns to humility and offers the risen Christ the opportunity to remind all of us of the great blessing in belief and faith. This faith of ours in a graced truth. And it brings what Jesus has breathed on the apostles and disciples. It is his Divine Mercy. The result of receiving it is of course a peace that no one can take from us. In the old forms of Baptism, the priest or deacon would breathe three times on the newly baptized signaling the reception of the Holy Spirit. We trust now that through the waters of baptism and the anointing afterward, we receive this spirit or breath of God in Confirmation, and it is the spirit acting through the priest that consecrates the host(s) at Mass. It is the same spirit that is imparted to couples at the nuptial prayer and is used at confession and the anointing of the sick. The grace of God is poured out in this way in each sacrament. I sometimes try to put myself in that scene, to think about the fear and the shame that would have been in the apostles and then hearing this message of forgiveness and peace. I also think about the boldness of Thomas and his need for concrete evidence and the truth that where are still “materialists” among us, i.e., those who persist in not believing without some concrete evidence. What I try to experience afterward is the bold faith of the Apostles. They become fearless and wisdom filled. Whenever we do prayer partners, I ask the person praying for me to ask God to increase my wisdom and courage. I think the desire comes from this passage.
This is also the time of the Kerygma, which is the story of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. We can read about this in the beginning chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. The book outlines what is happening in the first few years of the church after the Pentecost moment. The apostles and disciples prepared themselves to tell the story and then went out to public places and began to preach. Their results were remarkable.
And since the now it is our turn to preach in the marketplace, we will do the same thing as we invite people to begin our 32nd Alpha. Stay tuned for more information.
Peace, and Happy Easter tide. Fr. Murray
Music director search. We have sent out a notice for applications and are waiting to hear from the archdiocese as well to respond to those who have sent us their resume’s directly.
Building news: The work on the outside of the building has commenced as all can see. The plan is to fix the chimney first. The masons reported that they were able to remove some bricks with their hand. Not a good sign. The next project is the back of the building and then the front last. This part of the building will have scaffolding for a period beginning on Aprils 19th and for the duration of the project. The school projects are also starting in mid-April and May and so that is good news to add also. They are projecting a November 2025 occupancy. There is a lot of work to do.