2nd Sunday of Easter

When Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved
reached the tomb, the younger went into the burial
space and believed because of his love. Note again
that the title of this disciple is, ’the one whom Jesus
loved.” This is meant to be you too. Your love brings
you to believe in the unbelievable presence of God.

In today’s gospel, there is another interesting name
that is meant to draw us into the drama. Thomas,
which means twin, is a twin to each one of us. Like
him, we are coming to faith through the gift of question
and doubt. Jesus comes back just for him and
through their encounter, he comes to state the greatest
truth about Jesus, “My Lord and my God.”

The good news is that Jesus never gives up on bringing
us to share in his life with the Father and the Holy
Spirit. He comes each moment just for you. What facilitated
Thomas’ new faith, was his staying with the
community of believers. He didn’t walk out, but hung
in there with his doubt. In the context of his faith
community, he came to experience the Christ, and
was then able to profess the fullness of faith.

In this Easter season, which culminates in the celebration
of Pentecost, we are encouraged to pursue the
Lord by sticking with our community of faith in prayer.
Then in our prayer, as we move beyond ourselves
and hear the voice of God, we realize that he is the
pursuer. Always with us, sustaining every breath and
calling us to let go of all that keeps us from living in
the fullness of God’s love.

Today, let us pray for one another. Let us pray for the
gifts of the Holy Spirit that we too might experience
the divine presence of God in the wordless ground of
our being. Then recognizing ourselves as sharing in
God’s divinity through Christ, our faith will be brought
to perfection, and our love will be God living in us personally
and communally. He will become our Lord and
our God!

“Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with the fullness of your
love.”