The Pillars of Our Faith

During these Easter days, three powerful words echo in our hearts: trust, peace, and faith. Three gifts that the Risen Christ longs to plant deep into our hearts through the Holy Scriptures. I believe that faith, peace and trust, these three essential pillars of our Christian life, have been revived in many hearts, especially in the light of the Requiem for our late Holy Father, Pope Francis.

But first, let us return to the accounts of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles.

It was a time filled with wonders and signs, a time when people placed deep trust in the power of God. Through the hands of the apostles, healing, liberation, and new life was poured out. People brought their sick into the streets, hoping that Peter’s and the other Apstostel’s shadows might fall upon them and bring healing. What incredible faith! They believed in God's power. They believed that Jesus lived and acted, right there among them and through them. But faith is not always easy. The Gospel tell us of the disciples who had locked themselves away, paralyzed by fear.

And then Jesus steps into their midst. No reprimand. No blame. Only these simple, healing words: "Peace be with you."

Peace. It is more than just the absence of war or conflict. Peace means this: I can come to rest, because I know I am accepted. I am loved. God is with me. One of the most meaningful signes of God’s merciful love is in the sacrament of reconciliation. It is an encounter full of truth, forgivness and peace.

“Peace be with” - with these words, Jesus breaks through the walls of fear. Our late Pope Francis never tired of speaking about building bridges toward others instead of building walls of selfishness and isolation.

With these words, Jesus gives his disciples — and gives us — new trust, new courage. And then comes Thomas. The doubter. The questioner. Thomas, who longs for certainty and proof. He insists on seeing with his own eyes, and touching with his own hands. Jesus does not reject him. On the contrary, he invites him: "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe!" And Thomas responds with one of the most profound and shortest professions of faith in the Bible: "My Lord and my God!"

The Doubting Thomas

Dear sisters and brothers, Thomas is not a hero of doubt. He is a hero of faith. Because true faith does not mean never doubting. True faith means moving toward the One who alone can answer, even in the midst of all our questions. Jesus gives us this faith: A faith that does not need to explain everything, but dares to trust. A faith that holds on to the hand of the Risen One, even in the darkest times. And he gives us his peace — a peace the world cannot give. A peace that gives us the courage to live boldly and faithfully, like the first Christians. A peace that heals what is wounded. A peace that sends us out as messengers of his merciful love.

Our Second Reading comes from the Book of Revelation. St. John sees the Lord in all his radiance and heavenly glory. And yet this great, exalted Christ touched him with his right hand and says: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the one who lives." God does not want to paralyze us with a vague (weg) fear about what tomorrow might bring. He wants to lift up our hearts. He wants to awaken in us a deep trust.

Dear Friends

Let us allow ourselves to be renewed today: With the trust that God is truly with us. With the peace that only Christ can give. and with the faith that endures even in times of doubt.

Then we too, like the first Christians, will become living witnesses of the Risen One.

Dear friends,

Christ has risen! – Allelujah, Allelujah.

Christ has truly risen, - Allelujah, Allelujah!

Amen. >