With the story of “Doubting Thomas” it is easy to overlook the more
significant event in today’s Gospel. The Lord imparts the Holy Spirit to
His community of believers and admonishes them to forgive one another’s
sins. This is much more than Jesus instructing his priests. It is an
instruction meant for the whole community.
The earliest Christian community described in the first reading must
have been a marvel, unfortunately it did not last too long. The next
chapter in the Acts of the Apostles shows that greed entered into the
community and discrimination was not far behind. St. Paul criticized
some believers for divisions within their communities. Subsequent
letters criticized Christians were for their factions, envy, jealousies,
indifference, dissention and problems with authority.
The Church has always had to struggle with building the perfect
Christian community. A lack of faith and an inability to forgive make
this all the more difficult. Forgiveness then is the gift Jesus imparts
to us, a gift that must be shared with others. And to do this requires
faith. An attitude of belief and surrender must replace an insistence on
seeing and experiencing.
The peace of the community we read about today came entirely from
spiritual inspiration, it would have been almost impossible to achieve
any other way. Is there anything we hold against our neighbors? Do we
withhold forgiveness or foster division where there should be
reconciliation and unity?
Let us heed the words of Jesus and forgive that we may be forgiven.
Pax Vobiscum
Second Sunday of Easter
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