BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 22)
Second Sunday of Easter, Year B – April 27, 2003
BIBLE READINGS
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
The founder of the religious congregation to which I belong is Rev. Fr. James Alberione. A holy man with a prophetic vision, he harnessed the pastoral potentiality of the modern means of communication at the service of evangelization. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, will beatify him today - April 27, 2003 – in Rome. Fr. Alberione founded five religious congregations, four aggregated Institutes, and the Association of Pauline Cooperators, all of which comprise the “Pauline Family”. In 1923, he was struck down with a serious illness that led him into a kind of crisis about the future of the religious family launched just a few years earlier. He needed some kind of assurance in the midst of uncertainties. He looked for confirmation in the most difficult moment of his life. The Divine Master kindheartedly obliged by appearing to him in a dream, assuring him of his divine assistance and presence. Here is Fr. Alberione’s personal account of that awesome experience.
In a particularly difficult moment, reexamining all his ways of doing things, to see if there might perhaps be impediments to the action of grace on his part, it seems that the Divine Master may have wanted to reassure the Institute that had only gotten underway a few years before. In a subsequent dream, he had what seemed to him to be a reply. Jesus Master, in fact, said to him: “Fear not. I am with you. From here I will enlighten. Have a contrite heart.” The “from here” came forth from the tabernacle; and with power, such as to make one understand that from Him, the Master, must one receive all enlightenment. He spoke of this with his spiritual director, noting in what light the figure of the Master has been enveloped. His reply to me was: “Be at peace; dream or otherwise, what was said is holy; make it a practical program of life and of light for yourself and for all members.” From that point on he became more and more oriented to and received all from the tabernacle. (Cf. ABUNDANTES DIVITIAE, n. 151-155)
Indeed, the experience of Blessed James Alberione, a “true missionary of the Church” and a modern apostle for our times, is similar to that of the apostle Thomas, who experienced the compassion of the saving and merciful Lord as predilection. Thomas had been painfully shattered by the travails of the Lord’s passion and death. He was so broken-hearted by the events of Good Friday that the Easter news of the Lord’s rising seemed to him remote and too good to be true. Hopelessly entrapped in a situation of denial and sadness, Thomas simply did not have the ability to believe the Good News of the Lord’s resurrection transmitted to him by the other disciples. The incredulous apostle therefore protested: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hands into his side, I will not believe.” A week after the first Easter apparition, the Risen Lord stood again in their midst, wishing them “Shalom”, a form of salutation and a bestowal of benediction. The Risen Lord then turned to Thomas who became the object of his special concern. 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.” Confronted by the fullness of the Easter revelation concretized in the resurrected Jesus, the incredulous Thomas surrendered to his saving love with faith and wholeheartedly avowed: “My Lord and my God!”
The encounter of the “unbelieving” Thomas with the Risen Lord, who condescended to redeem him from his incredulity, is narrated in chapter 20 of the Gospel of John, regarded by biblical scholars as the last of his writings. According to Adrien Nocent: “It is one of the best constructed chapters in the whole gospel, and its content is extremely important for the life of the Church as a whole and for the life of each member. Why so? Because, although the apostles were in a position to have concrete experience of the Risen Christ, that kind of experience must in the future be replaced by a purely spiritual faith.” The faith in the Risen Lord would depend not on any empirical evidence of resurrection, but rather, in the proclamation of the Good News and in the life witnessing of the disciples concerning the Easter event. Indeed, the faith of the Christians who believe “without seeing” is rooted in the presence of the Risen Lord who lives on in the Church today through the Holy Spirit, the Easter gift.
The first reading (cf. Acts 4:32-35) depicts how the Easter kerygma was translated into life witnessing by the early Christian community: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind … With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus … There was no needy person among them for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to their need.” Luke’s idyllic picture of the springtime of the Church challenges today’s Christian believers to be selfless and totally concerned with one another. The presence of the Risen Lord in our midst should lead us to a sense of responsibility, overcome an overly possessive spirit, and encourage a spirit of sharing and loving service. According to Harold Buetow: “If we’ve become jaded, let’s renew our vision, rededicating ourselves to the constant attempt to make our Church and our world what they should be … In other words, let’s grow in faith and love ourselves, and then radiate them to everybody else.”
The second reading (I Jn 5:1-6) contains a very powerful christological affirmation: “The victory that conquers the world is our faith. Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!” Faith in the Risen Christ makes us conquerors for it enables us to see beyond the distressing aspects of today’s world to that perfect world won for us by Christ’s sacrificial love on the cross. Aelred Rosser remarks: “It is our faith that enables us to work in patience and trust to hasten the coming of that perfect world.” In that perfect world, the Easter mystery is accomplished in its entirety through the Spirit of Jesus in God’s beloved creation, and the fullness of peace lives in eternity.
A. As part of the Easter community founded on the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst, do we endeavor to rouse faith in him, the glorified Christ?
B. Like the formerly incredulous Thomas who was roused to make the Easter confession, “My Lord and my God”, do we confess our wholehearted faith in Jesus, victorious over sin and death?
C. Is our Easter faith characterized by a healthy attitude of “detachment” from worldly goods that would free us from an obsessive compulsion of possessing them and thus enable us to respond to the needy?
(Cf. the Easter song, “Ye Sons and Daughters”. Text attributed to Jean Tisserand, d. 1494)
Leader: Ye sons and daughters, let us sing! The King of heav’n, the glorious King, o’er death today rose triumphing. Alleluia!
Assembly: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Leader: That night the apostles met in fear; amidst them came their Lord most dear, and said “My peace be on all here.” Alleluia! When Thomas first the tidings heard, how they had seen the risen Lord, He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia!
Assembly: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Leader: “My pierced side, O Thomas, see; my hands, my feet, I show to thee; not faithless, but believing be.” Alleluia. No longer Thomas then denied, he saw the feet, the hands, the side; “Thou art my Lord and God,” he cried. Alleluia!
Assembly: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Leader: How blest are they who have not seen, and yet whose faith constant been, for they eternal life shall win. Alleluia! On this most holy day of days, to God your hearts and voices raise, in laud and jubilee and praise. Alleluia!
Assembly: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (Jn 20:29)
A. ACTION PLAN: Pray for those who have difficulty in believing, that God may help them in their unbelief.
B. ACTION PLAN: Take stock of your material possessions. Is there anything that you can share with the poor and the needy? Make a resolution to do so in the spirit of the early Christian community who were of one heart and mind, and did not allow any needy person among them who was not helped according to his/her need.