Sunday - April 15, 2007
Today is the eighth day from Jesus' resurrection. He waited for
this day to show himself to the apostles for the second time, and so he inaugurated
the rhythm the apostles themselves continued. We still respect this rhythm meeting
every week.
The first meeting of the resurrected Jesus with his disciples, still afraid
and weak in the faith, was scanned by his salutation "Peace be with you".
With this salutation, Jesus wanted and wants to share with us the Father's gift
that he himself received: the glorious life and (before this) the commission
for coming into the world to save it and change it. He says, to complete the
second salutation, "as my Father sent me, so I send you". The Father
sent Jesus like the messenger of the goodness and the mercy of God for each
person. Everybody should know that he is loved with an insuperable, perfect,
tender and faithful love. Those who will know it, will be full of real joy.
They will get instruments for communion and peace with everybody. Then Jesus
breathed the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, so that they would receive themselves
his own power and life. So what he said will not remain a dream, but will be
reality every day.
The eighth day, Jesus repeats the salutation. It nearly seems that every time
we celebrate the memorial of his resurrection we can repeat the same words and
the same signs. But this time he notices first of all the presence of Thomas.
He notices him because this disciple shows sadness, his face is dark, because
there is no faith in his heart. Before going on, Jesus wants to recover him
to faith and communion. In the Eucharistic assembly, if there is someone who
does not believe and is not in communion, he cannot enjoy the presence of Jesus
and it is impossible to listen to him with joy. Perhaps this is the reason why
our communities are without enthusiasm, joy and power to transmit the beauty
of faith. May be this is the reason why many people look at the watch during
the Sunday's Eucharist and do not enjoy Jesus in it? Will be this the reason
why many preachers feel restrained and are enable to talk clearly about the
beautiful mysteries of God? Christians should often confess their own sins to
lighten Sunday's celebrations. Jesus does this when he appears resurrected:
he gives to the apostles the privilege to forgive the others. Jesus desires
and hopes clearly that the Christians hurry to receive forgiveness.
The faith in Jesus resurrected changes the life of the believers. They are no
longer only immersed in problems and interests of this world and this earthly
life. They live a higher, new, beautiful and holy dimension.
The first reading shows us Peter, busy and worried only with announcing the
Gospel and Jesus because there's no other life for mankind.
The second reading shows us the visions of John. Although he suffers in prison,
he enjoys, worships and obeys to the Lord Jesus who visits him in the "day
of the Lord". We will dedicate this precious day to listening, loving and
serving our Lord.