Reflection for the Vigil of the Second Sunday of Easter 2009
18 April 2009

by Thomasita Homan, OSB

“At the sight of the Lord, the disciples rejoiced. “Peace be with you.’” Again the Lord says, “Peace be with you.”

Jesus’ words are addressed to us, too, as we gather on this first day of oblation for Carol Sue Bailey, Joyloise Rau, and Deborah Wright. We are, all of us twins of doubting Didymus Thomas, the apostle, in our Gospel story. With our own fears, hopes, yearning faith, we gather, longing to see the risen Christ. Is it any wonder that Jesus responds to Thomas as he does? Any wonder that he meets Thomas just where he is on his faith journey? Any wonder that he invites Thomas, rather than any of his other disciples, to touch his wounded fingers and side? Can you imagine that maybe Jesus is rewarding Thomas for the sincere questioning that lies beneath his doubt?

I think God’s pattern throughout history has been to reward those who seek him, who ask questions in their search. Remember Job, the psalmists, Mary, and Joseph. God’s reward often seems to be to reveal himself in a special way to those who truly seek him.

So Thomas, of all the apostles, is the only one invited to touch the wounds of Jesus. Did he touch them? We don’t know. But suddenly, on seeing Jesus, Thomas knows in his deepest soul that this is Jesus…this is the risen Jesus…this is God. His words ring on through the centuries: “My Lord and my God.” And the words of Thomas show us the meaning of faith. Thomas has been called “a hinge between the first Christians who saw Jesus” and later generations who do not see Jesus.

Today, in the newest of the New Testament times, how do we recognize Christ? When was the last time we touched the wounds of Christ? Our challenge today is to recognize Christ present in so many ways…in so many people. Christ present in our community members, our family, our neighborhood, our world, and if we doubt Christ’s presence, we are to touch their hurts…and trust.

I’m reminded of something Sister Georgia Van Verth said in her later years, when her eyes and ears had dimmed. I’m sure many of us recall how she’d reach out and take our arm or hand as we passed her at in the dining room, and she’d say, “I love you. Who are you? “ One day, I asked, “Sister Georgia, why do you say ‘I love you” before you know who the sister is?” She tilted her head toward me, smiled, and said in a confidential voice, “I used to have some enemies, but I don’t recall their names, so I just love them all, now.’” In her darkness she seemed to know what Jesus means by recognition and being sent to live the Easter message of resurrection and forgiveness?

Another community memory that relates to our celebration of the resurrection story has to do with Sister Mary Paul Ege, who died since last year’s Rite of Oblation. Mary Paul was for many years a lively, persistent, questioning presence among us. She is the one whose questions led her to start the first oblate group at Mount St. Scholastica. I recall her fondness for St. Thomas, for his questions, his humility, and his profound faith. One of her favorite quotes was the final question in the final chapter of the Rule: “Are you hastening toward your heavenly home?” We would do well to keep Mary Paul as our intercessor for oblates.

This evening, then, dear oblates and sisters, we are again brought to discover the profound power of Jesus’ resurrection. We are asked to rejoice, to be forgiving, and to have faith, deep faith. We are brought to our knees, saying with our twin, “My Lord and my God.”

© 2009 Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica
Atchison, Kansas