• 2nd Easter (C), April 15, 2007
• Theme: Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe

• Most of us gathered for worship this Sunday probably don’t share the fear the disciples experienced.
• They feared for their lives; they had seen what had happened to Jesus.
• As his followers, they could expect similar treatment, so they locked themselves in to keep danger out.
• While we probably don’t have their limiting fears, we may have their initial doubts.
• They had heard Mary Magdalene’s report of the empty tomb and her meeting with the risen Lord,
• But her report was not enough to overcome their doubts.

• This may be the way Jesus’ message about not being afraid applies to us—he could be telling us not to be afraid because of our doubts.
• Don’t let our doubts paralyze us; instead of dwelling on them, we must lean more on the actual faith that we do have.
• In addition, we don’t stand alone in these doubts; we belong to a community whose members also struggle with their doubts.
• Our community worshiping around us today doesn’t consist of some doubters and other believers; it is comprised of believers who wrestle with doubts.
• Thomas with his doubts, finally surrendered to belief before the risen Lord.

• Faith, it seems from today’s story, has to go beyond seeing and touching with our physical senses.
• Instead, as with Thomas, the risen Christ encourages a leap of faith, “…do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
• Thomas is a reminder today that our journey of faith includes doubt.
• We are fortunate to be among those Jesus called “blessed.”
• We have trusted the gospel news of the resurrection,
• Have embraced it as our faith and
• Have gone about living as people who draw life from a Spirit that had been breathed into each one of us

• Testimony
• At the Easter Vigil this year, 16 adults were fully initiated into the Catholic Community.
• 7 were Baptized, Confirmed and received First Communion
• 9 who had already been baptized finished their initiation with the reception of Confirmation and First Communion.
• These wonderful people – participated for 7 months in the program called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults – RCIA for short.
• They came to the process with questions.
• They journeyed in the program together.
• They nurtured each other in their search for the Lord
• They all had their doubts, yet they came a point where they each took a leap of faith and asked to be admitted into the Church.
• I would like to ask Gabrielle Guglielmelli who was Baptized, Confirmed and received First Communion at the Easter Vigil if she would share something of her experience of this journey of faith with us.

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