Second Sunday of Easter [C]

 


SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER [C]


The Peter we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. We can say that, after a number of false starts, he is now beginning to blossom. If he comes into contact with you, then you will be able to expect a positive result. In fact, according to the Book of Acts, even if he walks past you, the effect of his shadow will produce a meaningful impact (5:15). If only you could have a St. Peter enter into your life. You’ll be satisfied even if he simply walks on by. 


A vagrant finds himself being passed by. He is stationed at a street corner, selling flowers. Some of the pedestrians walk on by, refusing to offer anything in the way of acknowledgement. Others stop long enough to stuff a dollar or two into his donation jar, but they continue on, not bothering to take one of his flowers. The point comes, however, when an actual customer steps forward. It’s a businessman, who opens his wallet, deposits a sum of money, and then picks up one of the flowers. He addresses the vagrant: You and I sir, we are each men of business. You’re selling a product. I have agreed to pay you for your product. The transaction becomes completed when I take possession of the product. Now that I have my flower, I will wish you a good day. It has been a pleasure engaging in commerce with you, speaking as one businessman to another. With that, he heads off on his way. 


Several months later, they cross paths again. This time the vagrant is no longer dressed like a vagrant. It turns out that the former vagrant now has a job. It’s an entry-level position, but he sees it as a stepping stone to something more significant. He credits that earlier encounter, and the purchasing of the flower. He explains: You treated me like I was an actual businessman. It touched me deep down inside. It helped me to regain my self-respect. So I just want to say thank you. 


For all practical purposes, he is beginning to blossom. He was a vagrant selling flowers. The businessman accepted the situation for what it was. And yet, he planted the necessary seeds so that an evolution could take place. By assuming the role of the customer, he made it necessary for somebody else to adopt the role of the merchant. The vagrant is being called upon to fulfill a role that he had never before considered. Suddenly, he’s being something more than a vagrant. He’s being more than what he was previously. 


Jesus sparks a similar transformation as he engages the apostle Thomas. He accepts the situation for what it is: Thomas is practicing a conditional faith; in spiritual terms, he is the equivalent of a vagrant. Is he blessed? Jesus makes it clear: Blessed are those who believe without a requirement for evidence (John 20:24-29). In other words, wouldn’t it be nice Thomas if your conditional faith could somehow become an unconditional faith? Jesus accepts what is. But he points the way to what could be. 


Peter has arrived. Thomas is about to arrive. What Jesus does for them, he can also do for you. He is studying you as you sit at the corner, selling your flowers. He loves you just the way that you are. And yet, he loves you too much to leave you that way (to quote the author Scott Hahn). Jesus meets you where you are at, so that he can lead you to where it is that you need to be. 

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