A country preacher decided to skip services one Sunday to spend the day hiking in the wilderness. Rounding a sharp bend in the trail, he collided with a tiger and was sent tumbling down a steep valley. He landed on a rock and broke his legs.
With the ferocious tiger charging at him from a distance, the preacher prayed, "O Lord, I'm so sorry for skipping services today. Please forgive me and grant me just one wish—make a Christian out of that tiger that's coming at me!"
At that very instant, the tiger skidded to a halt, fell to his knees, clasped his paws together, and began to pray aloud at the preacher's feet: "Dear God, please bless this food I am about to receive from your bounty."
Becoming a Christian and a follower of Christ is the challenge of today’s readings. Priest prayed for the tiger to become a Christian. For this purpose we need to understand the Christianity and the risen Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very heart of Christianity.
The believers gathered together and many wonders were worked, but though others were impressed, they did not want to join, perhaps because of the sudden-death event they had witnessed. They also might have not wanted to sell everything and invest in the common good.
First Reading of today tells us of the healing ministry of the Apostles. Immediately after the resurrection of Jesus, they became persons totally transformed. Jesus worked many signs and miracles through them. People in Jerusalem too once they saw their work held them in high esteem. The result of their work was that the community increased in numbers. People also believed in the power of the Apostles and brought the sick and infirm so that they could touch them or even their shadow fall on them. While several were healed many more joined them in the community. As the sick were healed by the power of the Holy Spirit, many others did come to follow the Way of Jesus through the preaching of the Good News. The early Church grew even though there was and would be persecution, suspicion and rejection and other scandals throughout its history.
Today’s Gospel continues with the second part that contains the second apparition of Jesus which is equally important for us. On the first day when Jesus had come to them, one of the apostles, Thomas was missing from among them. When his companions tell him that they had seen the Lord and had eaten with him, he would not believe. He needed the real proof of the wounds nails on his hands and feet and the wound in Jesus’ side. The disciples knowing Thomas leave him alone. During next appearance, Jesus calls Thomas forward and shows himself. The reaction of Thomas is the word of Faith which we repeat so often, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas is called to believe in Jesus. Ironically, too, it is an act of faith not merely for Thomas but for all. It was not Thomas who was doubtful and without faith. In fact he was the man of faith and not the rest of them. He only said if Jesus is raised and is alive, then why are you hiding? You should go out to the main streets and proclaim. The way you are hiding does not make me believe that he is alive.
Three things are focused today
1. Just like the disciples in the first reading we are called to become solace to the people around us. Today we are focusing on the feast of Divine Mercy. More people are added to the community. Is our life attractive to people today?
2. The suffering of the people has an answer today as mentioned in the second reading. Jesus has suffered now is now raised from the dead as he had promised. God can comfort us. Do I believe this?
3. The apostle Thomas becomes a model for us to reflect on our christen commitment profession of faith. We know that he was insistent on encountering Christ. God comes and gives peace to the troubled hearty.
We are called to renew our commitment as Christians who live on the resurrection experience and be merciful to the others. The mass enables us to enlighten and strengthen us to be another Christ today.
