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- Fr Raphael Ma, CR
- John 20: 19 - 31
A Resurrectionist Vocation Minute for April 12, 2nd Sunday of Easter
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No matter which year we are in (A, B, or C) in the Church’s 3 year cycle of Sunday readings, on the second Sunday of Easter, hear the account from John’s Gospel of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas.
And while the encounter between Jesus and Thomas is a very memorable story – the first half of this Sunday’s Gospel is no less important, even if it seems here to only serve the function of setting the scene for what is about to happen – “But Thomas, who was called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.”
But what Jesus says to his disciples in the first half of today’s Gospel is worth pausing and reflecting on, as we grow in our recognition of the Easter nature of our vocation as Christians, as disciples of Jesus.
The Resurrection of Jesus is not just something we remember each year that is part of Jesus’ story. The Resurrection of Jesus is a turning point in our story as well. Because Jesus says to his disciples:
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
A Christian vocation does not originate from ourselves – it’s not like choosing something from a menu or out of a catalogue. It’s not a matter of trying to decode or decipher “God’s will” for your life. Every genuinely Christian vocation is simply something that the Risen Christ invites us to – whatever our doubts or misgivings may be – the same Risen Christ who appeared to his disciples and to Thomas on this day, and said:
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
“Salvation history is a continual manifestation of God’s love for us. It was out of love that He created us. It is also out of love that He has redeemed us and made us His sons. In our own day, God continues to manifest this love for us in the person of the Risen Christ, who is still present among us, sanctifying us through His Church, especially in its liturgical celebrations. A very special manifestation of God’s love was made to our Founders and to all who have followed them in the Congregation of the Resurrection because we have received Christ’s invitation to leave all and follow Him.”