2nd Sunday of Easter: Living as the Community of Resurrection
The second Sunday of Easter is called by many names. First, it is called the Octave Day of Easter since it is the eight day after Easter. It is also called Low Sunday, particularly in the Anglican Communion. It is also called Thomas Sunday because of the story of Thomas in the gospel today. It also called Quasimodo Sunday and Quasimodogeniti.[1] On 30 April 2000, it was also designated as Divine Mercy Sunday by Pope John Paul II.
By the many names alone, a lot can be said about this 2nd Sunday of Easter. This may be tricky for preachers as they may get carried away by so much material while at the same time maintain focus otherwise they may wander around and fail to land.
Eight days have passed since Easter and we have 40 more days to go to celebrate and ponder on the meaning of Jesus’ and our resurrection. Are we living as a community of the resurrection?
In this blog I would like to reflect on the qualities of a living community of the resurrection. Our readings today give a lot of clues.
First clue: Communion of the Resurrection
In the first reading we hear about how the early Christian communities lived right after the resurrection and Pentecost. Let’s hear it directly from Luke in his book the Acts of the Apostles
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.
One word perfectly captures the life of the early Christians after the resurrection–communion. The Greek word used for communion in the Bible is koinonia. Koinonia is used frequently in the New Testament to describe the relationship within the early Christian church. According to Luke, the early Christian community lived in koinonia of the word, eucharist, material resources and hearts and mind. They gather regularly for the Word where the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They also regularly gather for the breaking of the bread–the early term for the eucharist. They lived in communion of material goods where all material resources were shared and distributed according to each one’s needs; each one voluntarily surrendering their right to private ownership. Finally, they lived in true friendship and fellowship, they were of one mind and one heart.
Second Clue: A community forgiven and redeemed by Jesus also forgives and redeem others in Jesus’ name.
After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were still living in fear and despair. In the evening of Easter, the disciples were huddled in the cenacle afraid to go out because they are terrified of the Jews (John 20:19). The disciples were perhaps thinking that, if they had done this to our beloved master, how much more to us, his ordinary disciples.
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews…
Then suddenly,
Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them,
‘Peace be with you’ ” (Jn 20:19).
The first words of the risen Jesus was “Shalom”–peace! The disciples betrayed, abandoned, and denied Jesus during the time that he needed them most—in his hour of passion, suffering and death. Despite their cowardice and disloyalty, Jesus unconditionally forgave them. He does not complain or demand an apology. He simply offers peace, no vengeance and holding of grudges. What an act of unconditional forgiveness and unwavering friendship!
The risen Jesus passed through the walls and doors of the locked cenacle. This shows that Jesus’ love and forgiveness will traverse any walls of apathy, betrayal and fear. The resurrection will triumph over any hatred and animosity.
This is the reason why St. John Paul II declared this Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday. God’s mercy is infinitely rich and no amount of human transgressions and obstinacy can stop it from being given to all humanity and God’s creation. The responsorial psalm of today’s liturgy proclaims this theme of mercy. In Psalm 118 we sing, “His mercy endures forever.”
As Jesus has forgiven the disciples, he empowered his disciples to pass on the gift of peace to others. The community of resurrection must be a community of healing and forgiveness. He said to them,
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Third Clue: Faith amidst Doubt
This Sunday is unfortunately remembered as the the story of doubting Thomas. This is in reference to the Apostle Thomas, who refused to believe that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to the ten other apostles, until he could see and feel the wounds received by Jesus on the cross.
While Thomas expressed doubt, when confronted with the resurrected Jesus, he was one of the apostles who proclaimed the strongest expression of faith with his statement “My Lord and my God” (John 20: 28). He was also one of the apostles who travelled the most in proclaiming the gospel. Tradition maintains that he founded churches in Mesopotamia, Ethiopia and even in India. Tradition also maintained that he died a martyred death there. Perhaps, the doubt of Thomas has made him a stronger and more passionate apostle.
Jesus’ response to Thomas’ declaration of faith was a recognition of the faith of the thousands of generation after the apostles who have come to believe despite not seeing Jesus.
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’ (Jn 20:29)
We have not seen with our eyes the resurrection of Jesus but we are blessed because we all have believe! Walking by faith and not by sight is an important mark of the community of the Risen One. This does not mean, however, that we have not experienced doubt in our faith. It rather means that despite our doubts and lack of faith, we continue to follow the Risen Lord and live the new life that he has bestowed upon us.
The heightening of doubt pretty much reflects today’s ethos. There is proliferation of fake news which make us skeptical about the truth across all topics – culture, politics, science and religion. We live in a time of skepticism and doubt that like the apostles of the the early church, believing entails sacrifice of time, talent and even of our very life. The community of the Risen Lord continue to uphold God’s love, life and goodness despite all the doubt and despair in the world today.
Fourth Clue: A Community Transformed and Sent
The risen Lord having forgiven his disciples, empowered them to spread God’s mercy to others and immediately sent them.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
The resurrection of Jesus transformed the disciples from a bunch of cowards to a band of brave men who preached the Gospel all over the Mediterranean and confidently faced death, some by crucifixion also. Peter, Paul and most of the Apostles suffered the same fate as Jesus. They were persecuted and martyred because they were continuing what Jesus had started – going against a heartless culture and caring for those in need.
As we continue our journey in Easter, let us continue to receive strength from the Risen Lord so that we may continue to be an Easter people.
Let me end with the opening prayer in the mass today:
God of everlasting mercy, who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast kindle the faith of the people you have made your own, increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed, that all may grasp and rightly understand in what font they have been washed, by whose Spirit they have been reborn, by whose Blood they have been redeemed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen. Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah.
[1] The name Quasimodo came from the Latin text of the traditional Introit for this day, which begins “Quasi modo geniti infantes…” from 1 Peter 2:2, roughly translated as “As newborn babes desire the rational milk without guile…”. from Catholic Encyclopedia listing for Low Sunday.
