2nd Sunday of Easter

I guessed this post was posted relatively late.. by 1 wk!

Last Sunday's reading was abt the doubtfullness of Thomas..

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. John 20:19-31

Many a time, we too, are like Thomas.. We'd locked ourselves up w/ shame & fear within ourselves..

I remembered Fr Andrew shared this during his homily.. He shared abt one of the world famous magician (whom I can't remember his name).. This magician, let's call him "M", is one who is able to release himself captives frm chains and locks and etc etc.. even when he is in underwater or in fires.. He is able to unlock, release himself and set himself free in minutes.. One day, he was put to a test. He was challenged to be locked up in the world's top secret prison, with all his limbs chained & locked up.. It was believed tt he shld be able to release himself in at most 5-10minutes time.

Reporters were waiting for him at the lobby.. & was anticipating his release.. Half hour has passed.. one hour has passed.. 2 hours have passed but M was not out yet.. They peeped through the CCTV & they saw tt M had actually released himself frm the chains and locks but was still in the room.. roaming and loitering ard.. He had released himself frm the locks within 2minutes but he was unable to escape frm the prison.. One of the reporter actually went up.. and he gently pushed open the door. TO THEIR SURPRISE, the DOOR WASN'T LOCKED! Why then, was he unable to come out of the room?

Here's the answer.. He'd locked himself inside.. by shame.. and by fear.. This is a very good analogy which Fr Andrew used to illustrate the condition of the apostles.. M was shameful tt he was unable to escape frm the prison.. which is why he feared of escaping.. as he was afraid tt ppl might laugh at him for not being able to release himself.. Similarly, after Jesus was crucified, the apostles were so afraid of the persecution of the Jews.. So they'd locked themselves up in the room.. until Christ appeared..

We, are like the apostles.. who often locked ourselves within our own hearts.. for "shame" tt our all-powerful, well-respected & miraculous master had been crucified & humiliated.. for fear tt we, as apostles, would be persecuted because we are with Him.. These are locks to the heart & only we ourselves are able to unlock them..

Chirst, who understands what we are going through, gave us 4 words repetatively, "PEACE BE WITH YOU!" Yes.. This peace is meant to be restored to the heart.. replace the shame & fear which we had w/ us.. remove those & replace w/ peace.. because Christ wants us to have peace.. so that we would be able to help him PROCLAIM His Love to the world!

**Always Keep Him in your heart. In everything, give thanks.. for it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus..**