The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite meditation on how we live within the stresses and needs of today as we are invited to share the peace and mercy offered in Christ.
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| Mercy in Life |
The reading from the Book of Acts describes communal life among the believers.
* [2:42–47] The first of three summary passages (along with Acts 4:32–37; 5:12–16) that outline, somewhat idyllically, the chief characteristics of the Jerusalem community: adherence to the teachings of the Twelve and the centering of its religious life in the eucharistic liturgy (Acts 2:42); a system of distribution of goods that led wealthier Christians to sell their possessions when the needs of the community’s poor required it (Acts 2:44 and the note on Acts 4:32–37); and continued attendance at the temple, since in this initial stage there was little or no thought of any dividing line between Christianity and Judaism (Acts 2:46).1
Psalm 118 is a song of victory.
* [Psalm 118] A thanksgiving liturgy accompanying a procession of the king and the people into the Temple precincts. After an invocation in the form of a litany (Ps 118:1–4), the psalmist (very likely speaking in the name of the community) describes how the people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29).2
The reading from the First Letter of Peter declares our living hope in Christ regardless of suffering.
* [1:6–9] As the glory of Christ’s resurrection was preceded by his sufferings and death, the new life of faith that it bestows is to be subjected to many trials (1 Pt 1:6) while achieving its goal: the glory of the fullness of salvation (1 Pt 1:9) at the coming of Christ (1 Pt 1:7).3
In the Gospel of John, Jesus appears to the disciples and the next week to Thomas.
* [20:21] By means of this sending, the Eleven were made apostles, that is, “those sent” (cf. Jn 17:18), though John does not use the noun in reference to them (see note on Jn 13:16). A solemn mission or “sending” is also the subject of the post-resurrection appearances to the Eleven in Mt 28:19; Lk 24:47; Mk 16:15.4
Joan Blandin Howard comments that for over three weeks, we have been experiencing a devastating virus – the COVID-19, coronavirus...The suffering and death that many continue to experience here in our own cities, towns and neighborhoods is overwhelming. There is fear, panic, greed, hoarding, violence and death. Many have died and many more will die. Where is this God of ours? Where is our risen Christ?
“My son, my spouse, my mother died and I couldn’t even be there to comfort them. Where are You?” What would Jesus answer to our pleading, our doubting? “Come and see for yourselves…”. “I am here with the doctors, nurses, first responders, hospital chaplains offering comfort to the sick and dying and strength, encouragement, perseverance, the Breath of the Spirit. Look for Me – I am here in the unemployment lines, in the grocery stores delivering food, in the food banks feeding the sick and hungry. I am here – look where you walk…. I am the laughing children bringing a respite of joy in their colorful sidewalk chalk drawings. Flowers and hopscotch! I am the tweeting teenager planting smiley face helium balloons in neighbors’ yards. Let me put my fingers into your sorrow, join my tears and my joy and smiles with yours.” You plead “Where are you, Jesus?” “I am with you through it all.” “My mercy endures forever.”5
Don Schwager quotes “Touching the Flesh, He Invokes the Word,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"But when Jesus showed Thomas the very places where he had his doubts, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God." He touched his flesh, he proclaimed his divinity. What did he touch? The body of Christ. Was the body of Christ the divinity of Christ? The divinity of Christ was the Word; the humanity of Christ was soul and flesh. Thomas could not touch the soul, but he could perceive it, because the body that had been dead was moving about alive. But that Word is subject neither to change nor to contact, it neither regresses nor progresses, neither fails nor flourishes, because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. That is what Thomas proclaimed. He touched the flesh, he invoked the Word, because the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (excerpt from Sermon 145A)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 20:19-31 suggests that Jesus could have stayed away, but he didn’t want to leave Thomas in that state. So he invited Thomas to touch his wounds and see that it was really him. And that act of compassion and patience—that act of mercy—led Thomas to proclaim, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Eventually, that mercy would lead Thomas to travel far and wide proclaiming the gospel and, in the end, give his life for his Lord.
Thomas’ story shows us that God’s mercy involves more than just the forgiveness of our sins, great as that is. It also involves his compassion for our weakness and his patience with our slow progress. It’s a wide mercy that frees us from our doubts, fears, and guilt as well as our sin. Like Thomas, it allows us to experience Jesus’ divine life more fully so that we can follow him wherever he leads us.7
Friar Jude Winkler assesses that Luke is a bit of a Pollyanna offering a sanitized version of life among the disciples. The First Letter of Peter focuses on the great dignity of those who have been saved by Christ. Friar Jude expresses concern that the doubt of Thomas has overshadowed his life as apostle and martyr.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, likes to say that Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross were part of the “final supernova” of nondual, mystical consciousness in 16th-century Spain, before it all but disappeared in Europe for five hundred years in the wake of the Protestant Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the invention of the printing press. Both Teresa and John wrote detailed accounts of their lives and experiences with God, which makes them very accessible guides. Fr Richard offers “For all the [Covid 19] helpers, including people like yourselves who are doing what you can to meet the needs of loved ones and those who are suffering, I offer this excerpt of a prayer from my friend Mirabai Starr, who is a translator of Teresa of Ávila’s works.”
You [Teresa] lived that beautiful balanceBetween active serviceAnd quiet contemplation.Teach us to be of use in this troubled worldAt the same time that we cultivateJoyous intimacyWith the Beloved who lives inside us. [1]8
As we accept the Peace of Christ and are open to His mercy we find the Spirit to live with love in times of suffering.
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