Reflection on Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter 8 April 2018

Photo by Yoal Desurmont on Unsplash

Acts 4:32-35, Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24, 1 John 5:1-6, John 20:19-31

 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. — 1 John 5:3

 So often it seems difficult even to know how we ought to demonstrate to God that we love him, but he already told us how to love him. We show our love for him by obeying his commandments.

I think this can end up being a particularly good way of showing our love for him precisely because it can go against our inclinations. If I don't feel like going to Mass, it would be easier to stay home. But when I do go, it shows that I believe that what God wants is more important than what I want. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It's not that hard to go to Mass. But it is still a death to self, if a tiny one. And tiny acts of love can add up.

We don't live in a culture that thinks much of obedience. Our culture celebrates independence and glorifies rebels. To obey God can be seen as weak-minded and stupid.

But it is really the only logical thing to do if we believe in him, if we really believe God's ways are as far above our ways as the heavens are above the earth (Isaiah 55:9) and that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25.)

How often in our lives do we turn to other people who seem to be wise and whom we respect in order to get advice? And why then would we ever balk at following God's advice?

Jesus tells Thomas not to be unbelieving but to believe (John 20:27) and that's what he wants from all of us. Part of believing in him is trusting that he is good and that his commandments are good, no matter how difficult they may seem to follow.

We may not always feel like our faith makes us victors over the world, but if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then we have already won a victory. John C.H. Wu said, "When I became a Christian in 1917, I felt as though I had become an emperor overnight, because now I could worship God directly, having been empowered to be a son of God."

That is the right perspective for us to have because, even in the midst of our suffering we are privileged and blessed. We are loved by a God who loved us enough to die for us and we have only to follow him if we want to triumph in the end.

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