Faith, that’s what it’s all about! Second Sunday of Easter

Acts, 5; 15

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.

John, 20; 29

            Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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“Grace and freedom, God’s free initiative and the free human response of acceptance, comprise the mystery of faith.”¹

           In today’s readings faith is the object of our attention. In the reading from the Act of the Apostles, faith is the reason for the healing and conversion of the multitudes. This reading also shows us the example of community strength in action. Remember when Jesus could barely perform miracles in his own home town because of the lack of faith by the people. (Mat, 13; 58)  Here, the faith of the community is so strong that even the shadow of Peter cured the sick. The story presented here is a real example of what faith can accomplish in the here and now and how faith should be expressed by the faithful.

           In the Gospel reading, Thomas’ “prove it” attitude is the example given to all Christians on what faith isn’t. This Gospel reading defines faith more clearly. This is a faith we call conviction and trust. This faith is a considered and firm acceptance of a God and the promise of God. To use the verbiage from a current commercial, “it’s not all willy-nilly”, real faith is steadfast, especially when it’s not convenient or popular.

            Yes, today’s readings are teaching through example the absolute necessity to live our lives with faith, and in faith. We must understand that we live in an imperfect world and that our lives will be imperfect, but we need to live our lives with faith and with an ever continuous attempt to understand our lives as a relationship with God. And our relationship with God, through Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit is what our faith is all about.

Scripture is from the NABRE

1 – Encyclopedia of Catholicism; by Richard P. McBrien

by David E. Gonzales