One adjective that comes to mind as I ponder today’s gospel is “skeptical.” Thomas was skeptical when he heard the news that Jesus has risen from the dead. Who could blame him? After all, aside from the miracle of Lazarus, that had never happened before. If someone were to run in here and excitedly tell us that Pope John Paul has risen from the dead, wouldn’t we all be skeptical?
One adjective that comes to mind as I ponder today’s gospel is “skeptical.” Thomas was skeptical when he heard the news that Jesus has risen from the dead. Who could blame him? After all, aside from the miracle of Lazarus, that had never happened before. If someone were to run in here and excitedly tell us that Pope John Paul has risen from the dead, wouldn’t we all be skeptical?
Thomas needed some proof. “Unless I see the mark of nails in his hands, I will not believe.” For this remark, he has gone down in history, remembered as “doubting Thomas.” We view such a label negatively but in fact, doubt is a requisite for faith. As Thomas demonstrated a week later, his doubt led him to worship. Upon seeing Jesus, he became the first apostle to say, “My Lord and my God!”
Speaking of skepticism, when the building project was first announced five years ago, I imagine a fair number of parishioners were skeptical that it would ever be done. They probably became even more skeptical when the first architect was dismissed for being too costly and the second for being incompetent. When we had to shelve the original plans and start over with yet another architect during my first year here, even some on the building committee were beginning to think, “Unless I see the mark of nails in the wood, I will not believe!” Well, see for yourself, the nail marks are there!
The reality of a new parish center took much effort on the part of a dedicated building committee that persevered in its mission, the architect, the contractor and his many sub-contractors, and the generosity of parishioners who were never skeptical but had faith that the new parish center would one day be reality.
The effort of everyone who has helped to make this dream become a reality to me is a testimony of faith. The artist who is creating stained glass windows, the carpenters and other skilled workers giving shape to what the architect designed and the landscaping that will take place to provide beauty to our campus remind me of countless others who helped to build majestic cathedrals in the past. Each did a small part but in the end left behind a lasting monument to their faith.
The same was true for the apostles. We wouldn’t be here today if it had not been for the faith that emerged on Easter Sunday so long ago. That night, the risen Christ appeared to them for the first time and greeted them with the gift of peace. “Peace be with you.” His peace means much more than simply feeling good or the absence of conflict or hostility. Like a majestic cathedral, his gift of peace continues to be created today brick by brick, pane by pane in that every act of kindness, justice, and mercy performed by his followers contributes toward making real Christ’s gift of peace in the world today. His “peace” is a state of being that encompasses all: peace that honors humility and cherishes reconciliation; peace that welcomes back the lost, heals the brokenhearted, and respects the dignity of every person as a child of God; peace that is born of wisdom, justice and gratitude.
A brick by itself isn’t much, nor is a pane of glass or a siding of wood, but taken together, they can add up to create a majestic church. Likewise, there is more to a church than the building itself. What makes the church real is the community of believers within. No wonder then, we often hear the command at the end of our worship, “The Mass is ended, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Jesus is expecting us to go forth from here and actively live our faith the rest of the week at home, at school, at work, and wherever else we will find ourselves. We are all expected to do our part in making the kingdom of God come alive.
Have you ever watched geese fly in formation? While a thing of beauty to watch, the v-shaped formation is essential to the geese for survival. If you listen, you can hear the beat of their wings whistling through the air in unison. And that is the secret of their strength. The lead goose cuts a swath through the air resistance, which creates a helping uplift for the birds behind it. In turn, their flapping makes it easier for the birds behind them. Each bird takes its turn at being the leader. As the tired ones fan out to the edge of the V, the rested ones surge toward the point of the V to drive the flock onward. Together, cooperating as a flock, geese can fly much further, with up to 60 percent less effort.
Peace is hard work; creating and maintaining peace requires focused action on our parts. But working together, we can do make Christ’s peace more real in our midst. One way would be to become more active in our faith community. I have asked the different ministries and organizations in the parish to give you an opportunity to find out what is going on and to see how you can be involved. Granted, the hall is cozy but I urge you to wander through and take a look and find for yourself a way to be more involved in the parish. Some of you may be skeptical that you have anything to offer but like geese flying in formation, we all can make a difference in making St. Hubert a more vibrant parish tomorrow than it has been in the past.
Thomas is remembered for being skeptical, but then he believed in Jesus and in himself. How might you want to be remembered? Today we are being called to be involved in building up the kingdom of God. Believe in yourself and know that you too can make a difference around here.