Second Sunday after Pascha – Thomas Sunday
Read
Acts 5:12-20; John 20:19-31
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Have you ever seen “Back to the Future?” You know, the movie about the kid who travels back in time to when his parents were young? There were always scenes in that trilogy where Marty McFly, the main character, has to prove it to the bad guy that “he’s not chicken!” Often this gets Marty into all sorts of trouble, but his immaturity is a misguided attempt to guard the virtue of courage. This virtue is one which is especially needed in our time!
We read in the Acts of the Apostles the need for courage as well. The Apostles are courageously preaching and healing in the Temple, “on the turf” of the religious leaders of the day- the Sadducees. We know that they are preaching a way of freedom because St. Luke, the writer of Acts, uses the phrase “signs and wonders” which should remind us of God setting his Chosen People free from bondage in Egypt through the “mighty signs.” He did there through Moses (Ex 7:3, 11:10). Later this will also be an important part of St. Stephen’s speech before he dies as a martyr for the faith (Acts 7:36). We read that the people were too afraid to join them, and sure enough, the apostles are jailed! This, however, does not stop them as they are released by an angel and given the orders to return and do it all again!
Christ has come to set us free for freedom. However, freedom as we know is not free. We have just journeyed through Holy Week and witnessed the tremendous cost of our freedom which the Lord took upon Himself. Our response to the gift of Christ’s love is to respond with courage. Do we have the courage to join the modern-day apostles in their work of evangelization, preaching, teaching and healing or are we content to sit on the sidelines and “hold them in honour” from the safety of our indecision? At a time when there are many worries regarding our health through Covid-19 or financial security due to the economy, let us take this important time to renew our courage by responding to the One who has conquered even death to give us freedom! If He is for us, who could possibly be against us? Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!