{"id":254,"date":"2010-04-14T17:14:41","date_gmt":"2010-04-14T17:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/wordpress\/?p=254"},"modified":"2010-04-14T17:14:41","modified_gmt":"2010-04-14T17:14:41","slug":"easter-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/?p=254","title":{"rendered":"Easter 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

LET GOD BE REAL<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON April 11th<\/sup>, 2010<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

John20:28 \u201cThomas answered Him – My Lord and My God.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is Easter Day, and the sun has set.\u00a0 <\/span>The disciples are gathered together in the upper room – the same room where they celebrated the Last Supper.\u00a0 <\/span>They were not sure what was going to happen next, and they were still reeling from the events of that Easter morning.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They could not believe the story that Jesus had risen from the dead.\u00a0 <\/span>Shortly, two men would come rushing back from Emmaus to tell them excitedly that Jesus had been with them, and even eaten with them, just a few hours ago.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And then the moment!\u00a0 <\/span>Jesus appears in the upper room.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPeace be with you,\u201d He says, and He breathes on them.\u00a0 <\/span>Whatever doubts the band had were now, literally, blown away.\u00a0 <\/span>From then on, the apostles joyfully proclaimed the fact that Christ had risen.\u00a0 <\/span>But it was not all smooth <\/span>sailing from that day onwards.\u00a0 <\/span>The fact of the Resurrection did not make their lives any easier.\u00a0 <\/span>The fact of the Resurrection does not erase those difficulties which we sometimes experience in our lives.\u00a0 <\/span>We may have celebrated the Resurrection last Sunday in all its splendor – but life goes on, and for most of us it\u2019s not smooth sailing.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We cannot pretend that the joy and glow of Easter means no more suffering in the World.\u00a0 <\/span>Putting on a “Jesus lives” smile, or sticker on your car, while ignoring the pain and suffering of the world, is a false discipleship for Christians.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s why, even though Christ is Risen, we still have the figure of the Crucified on the cross.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is well illustrated by the apostle who was missing on that Easter evening.\u00a0 <\/span>St. John records that “Thomas, one of the twelve, called The Twin, was not with them when Jesus came<\/em>“.\u00a0 <\/span>When the apostles told Thomas what had happened, he refused to believe.\u00a0 <\/span>Not only that, he said he would not believe unless he could see and touch the five wounds of Jesus.\u00a0 <\/span>So Thomas, called The Twin, became Doubting Thomas – which is a name almost as famous in history as Pontius Pilate.\u00a0 <\/span>Doubting Thomas is the patron saint of all those who doubt or disbelieve, including modern day agnostics and atheists.\u00a0 <\/span>Thomas is not only a patron saint of those who doubt, but he reminds us that sometimes the resurrection of Jesus does not mean our life’s path is paved with gold or lined with roses. On the contrary.\u00a0 <\/span>Nevertheless, no matter what our path, no matter how difficult it is, as with doubting Thomas, Jesus is infinitely patient with us and does not stop loving us. Even if it has to be on our terms – like St, Thomas.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Have you ever wondered why St. Thomas was not there on that first Easter night?\u00a0 <\/span>It does seem strange.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The band had lost their leader. The one they dared call Christ was dead.\u00a0 <\/span>When those moments happen to us, we come together as family and friends.\u00a0 <\/span>We need to be with each other to support each other.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s what the apostles did – except for St. Thomas.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s probable that St. Thomas chose to mourn and grieve alone.\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe he was particularly devastated and had to be alone.\u00a0 <\/span>Sometimes we feel like that.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On a previous occasion, Thomas had said to Jesus, \u201cLord, we don\u2019t know where you are going.\u00a0 <\/span>How can we know the way?\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>He was already Doubting Thomas then.\u00a0 <\/span>You remember Jesus\u2019 answer? \u201cI am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.\u00a0 <\/span>No one comes to the Father, but by Me<\/em>\u201d.\u00a0 <\/span>Now he who was The Life is dead.\u00a0 <\/span>So for St. Thomas Jesus\u2019 death was a double disillusionment.\u00a0 <\/span>No wonder he doubted yet again.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps we can understand St. Thomas – not as a doubter, but in his disappointment.\u00a0 <\/span>What Jesus had said previously didn\u2019t seem to be true after all.\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ve all known disappointment. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Possibly, we also have known the desire to be alone in our grief and sadness.\u00a0 <\/span>In his being alone in that grief, he is definitely a patron for all of us \u2013 not as doubting Thomas. <\/span>Grieving Thomas is one with all of us. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas is also like us when he protests that he must have proof that Jesus is no longer dead, but risen.\u00a0 <\/span>In a sense, Thomas is challenging God to prove himself.\u00a0 <\/span>In his grief, Thomas wants to know that God is real and he wants to see and believe. But it must be on Thomas\u2019 terms.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cUnless<\/em>,\u201d he says, \u201cI see the holes and put my hand in His side<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>So it\u2019s on human terms, and not on God\u2019s terms, that Thomas wants to see and believe.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Haven\u2019t we, at least once, wanted God to act on our terms?\u00a0 <\/span>Haven\u2019t we all challenged God at some stage to be God, like Thomas?\u00a0 <\/span>Even if it was just to get us out of a hole, or put things right, or come to the rescue of one we loved.\u00a0 <\/span>Yes, Thomas is not just Doubting Thomas; he is a patron for all of us who are Christians.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This congregation is not full of people who have never asked questions about God – or themselves.\u00a0 <\/span>Many of us have looked for God in our grief, in our questionings, and just in the perplexities of our lives.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When we do that – when we question God – what happens?\u00a0 <\/span>We discover that Jesus is there presenting Himself to us as he did to St. Thomas.\u00a0 <\/span>He is inviting us to touch and see.\u00a0 <\/span>Though, perhaps, we were too busy to notice Him standing there.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus took up Thomas\u2019 challenge – and He does that with us too.\u00a0 <\/span>It is often in the sacraments that we can see and touch Jesus, the risen Christ. And it is always wonderful.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Our response, of course, can only be St. Thomas\u2019 response: \u201cMy Lord and my God<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LET GOD BE REAL SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON April 11th, 2010 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John20:28 \u201cThomas answered Him – My Lord and My God.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 It is Easter Day, and the sun has set.\u00a0 The disciples are gathered together in the upper room – the same room where […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}