Have you ever had doubts? Sure you have. Remember being a Saints fan before the Super Bowl. Doubts! But those of us with faith and perseverance; we always knew the Saints would win the Super Bowl. We had to trust too.
What makes you have doubts? Is it the economy, the weather, our job, maybe even our own family? Unfortunately the human condition gives us cause to doubt.
As people of faith do we doubt or do we say Jesus I Trust in You!
You know every Sunday is a wonderful time to rejoice in our faith and to celebrate God’s presence in our lives. Every now and again we arrive at one of those Sunday’s that just explodes with great joy. Look at what we celebrate today: it is the Easter Octave; this Sunday is the last of the 8 days of the Easter celebration. It is not the end of the Easter season, just the end of the Octave. Today is the Feast of Divine Mercy and we celebrate those glorious revelations of Jesus to St. Faustina of his unending mercy. The Feast of Divine Mercy was given to us officially by Pope John Paul II. Today, we now call him Blessed John Paul II as he was beatified earlier in the day by Pope Benedict 16th. The heroic and holy life of this wonderful man, this holy man has led to this day when he can be counted among the “blessed”. Now Blessed John Paul II is but one step away from being a “Saint”. And how appropriate that this occurs today on Divine Mercy Sunday! Today, being the 1st of May is also the beginning of the month we devote to Mary and is the date we normally celebrate St. Joseph the Worker. What a Sunday!
How appropriate that the Gospel today gives us what we commonly call the story of doubting Thomas. He is not going to believe that Jesus rose from the dead unless he has proof. The resurrected Jesus returns one week later to give Thomas the proof he asks for. And Thomas declares that Jesus is “my Lord and my God”. And Jesus tells Thomas rather bluntly that you believe because you see; blessed are those who believe and do not see; do not need proof. Now before we all jump on poor Thomas, consider that he may have been initially crushed after all the events of the crucifixion. This Gospel clearly tells us that Thomas is not present at the first appearance which takes place on the evening of the Resurrection. Can we give Thomas a break and understand why he may have doubts? Can we place ourselves in his shoes?
This Scripture we read today also gives us a clue why it is the appropriate Gospel for the Feast of Divine Mercy. Did we catch that part where Jesus breathes on them and gives them authority to wipe away sin and administer His healing mercy? The Divine Mercy we celebrate today is most excellently available to us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And here, in this Scripture, we see Jesus handing on this Sacrament to the Apostles, who have handed it on to this day. We need not have any doubt that when we approach the Priest in confession that we leave with Jesus’ Divine Mercy.
So as our Easter Octave ends and we continue with the joy of the Easter season can we work this week in our prayer life to turn away from doubts and trust in Jesus’ mercy? Have we ever prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy? This would be a beautiful week to offer a chaplet. Perhaps we have need of returning to confession. In this week when we celebrate Divine Mercy, approach Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At Mass, when the Priest holds up the consecrated bread and wine which is His Body & Blood, we can pray the words of St. Thomas: my Lord and my God! And when we pray this week, as call on our favorite Saints to pray for us, add one more name to that list: Blessed John Paul II, pray for us.
Having some doubts, it’s only natural. Having doubts of Jesus’ Divine Mercy; try a little trust, as in Jesus, I Trust in You!
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