Homily, Second Sunday of Easter
March 30, 2008

 
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Holy Spirit Parish Bulletin
  • Homily
  • Footnotes
  • Scripture Readings
  • Dear Brendan,

    I hope you had a great Easter week especially if you were away with your children with their school break. Here is the homily for today. Please excuse the rough voice on the audio, I have a bad cold and it definitely affects the recording.

    God Bless

    Fr. Brendan
  • Homily
  • Question of
    the Week
     
    March 30, 2008

     
    Like Thomas, we have all had times of doubt during our spiritual journey.

    Who or what has guided me back to the light of Christ during these times of doubt?
    _____________________

     
    April 6, 2008

     

     

    Scripture Readings
    Click Here

     
    Jesus' disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

    When have my eyes been opened to see and understand the Gospel in a new way?
    I Cannot Believe It!

    I cannot believe it! I cannot believe I've finally made it! I cannot believe I'm actually here! I cannot believe this is actually happening to me! I cannot believe that the Lord would allow this to happen to me! These are some of the different phrases we use when good things and bad things happen to us. When we arrive at the place of our dreams that we have always wanted to be for years and we say, "I cannot believe I'm finally here; I am standing over the City I have always wanted to see." Or on graduation day, we say, "I cannot believe I've finally done it. I've made it." Or if we got a new job, we say, "I can't believe I have the job I've always wanted. I cannot believe this is happening. Is this real?"

    Or, if we have something bad happen, we say, "I cannot believe this is happening to me. All that I have done and how can the Lord allow this to happen to me? I cannot believe this right now. Yes these are some of things we say when we have reached milestones, events or locations in our life; or things happen to us in a negative way.

    Now, most often, we attribute quite easily all the negative things to God. "Why is God allowing this to happen to me?" And when they are good things, we seem to take credit for them quite readily saying "Oh, I cannot believe I've made it! I've done it!" But when it is something negative, we say, "I cannot believe God is allowing this to happen!"

    In today's gospel, we hear somewhat of those same words from Thomas when he says, I cannot believe, or I won't believe it until he sees it. But then when he sees the Lord, he does something that few of us ever allow to happen. He really believes. He puts aside his doubt completely and says, "My Lord and my God." He does not look to anyone else. He just says, "My Lord and my God" and really believes. Thomas is remembered for "doubting" but we should remember him more for truly "believing."

    The challenge in our lives is that when good things happen to us, we don't ascribe them to God. When things are going well in our lives, we seem ready to take credit ourselves. When things are going well and good things are happening to us, do we say, "Lord, thank you for the gift of this easy part of my journey in life." It is a real challenge because when things are going well, we seem to forget about where God is in our life. And that is the reason our church is so often empty because things are going so well for everybody. I don't want things to change for people but I do wish they would recognize their God in their lives.

    I do not know about you, but when things are not going so well, I often end up back at my prayer desk. When things are not going so well, I come back to the church in a more powerful way. I know of my need for God when things are not going well. But when things are going well then there is a temptation to forget to be grateful to God.

    When Thomas saw, he believed. So we are called to see and believe. But oftentimes, you and I, even when we do see, we do not believe; even when we see the powerful hand of God in our own life, we still do not believe that God is a part of it -that's the temptation.

    The challenge for us is to look again at our lives; to look at what is going on in our lives and see the wonderful things that are happening; to see with eyes of faith and to see our God at work, and to say, "My Lord and my God." That is our challenge today. To look at our children and to see how good they are; how good it is to have a job; how good it is to have a house; how good it is to have a community around us; how good it is to have a family that cares for us. Not that all of the above are perfect. They are not, but they are God's gifts to us; God is in the midst of all of it. Today, may we look again at our lives and see the God who is present; and like Thomas, let us see and believe and cry out, "My Lord and my God."

  • Footnotes
  •    
  • Scripture Readings
  • Divine Mercy Second Sunday of Easter

    Reading 1
    Acts 2:42- 47

    They devoted themselves
    to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
    to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
    Awe came upon everyone,
    and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
    All who believed were together and had all things in common;
    they would sell their property and possessions
    and divide them among all according to each one's need.
    Every day they devoted themselves
    to meeting together in the temple area
    and to breaking bread in their homes.
    They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
    praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
    And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

    Responsorial Psalm
    Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

    R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.
    Let the house of Israel say,
    "His mercy endures forever."
    Let the house of Aaron say,
    "His mercy endures forever."
    Let those who fear the LORD say,
    "His mercy endures forever."
    R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.
    I was hard pressed and was falling,
    but the LORD helped me.
    My strength and my courage is the LORD,
    and he has been my savior.
    The joyful shout of victory
    in the tents of the just:
    R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.
    The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
    By the LORD has this been done;
    it is wonderful in our eyes.
    This is the day the LORD has made;
    let us be glad and rejoice in it.
    R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
    or:
    R. Alleluia.

    Reading II
    1 Pt 1:3- 9

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
    through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
    to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
    kept in heaven for you
    who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
    to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
    In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
    you may have to suffer through various trials,
    so that the genuineness of your faith,
    more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
    may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
    at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
    Although you have not seen him you love him;
    even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
    you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
    as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

    Gospel
    Jn 20:19- 31

    On the evening of that first day of the week,
    when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
    for fear of the Jews,
    Jesus came and stood in their midst
    and said to them, "Peace be with you."
    When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
    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."
    And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
    "Receive the Holy Spirit.
    Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
    and whose sins you retain are retained."

    Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
    was not with them when Jesus came.
    So the other disciples said to 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 into the nailmarks
    and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

    Now a week later his disciples were again inside
    and Thomas was with them.
    Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
    and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
    Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,
    and bring your hand and put it into my side,
    and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
    Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
    Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
    Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

    Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
    that are not written in this book.
    But these are written that you may come to believe
    that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
    and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
     

       
    Holy Spirit Parish
    1200 Redmond Avenue
    San Jose, California 95120
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