Scripture Reflection, March 30: Inspirational Stories of Faith

Scripture Readings:
Acts of the Apostles 2: 42-47
Psalm 118
First Peter 1: 3-9
John 20: 19-31

Click here to listen to the podcast of this scripture reflection.

I discovered some marvelous spiritual reading this week. The source was not one of the spiritual classics or other books in our rich tradition, nor was it a magazine or journal. I did my spiritual reading for this week by studying the personal essays of the first 28 applicants to the 2008 Catholics on Call Young Adult Conferences. I am not exaggerating when I make this claim; each year I truly find these essays to be a source of inspiration and insight. The essays that our young adults write demonstrate what a difference the gift of faith makes in our lives. It is clear that their faith in Christ has made a huge difference in their lives, and this difference has become tangible in the kinds of endeavors in which they are engaged: volunteer service in places like Appalachia, the inner city, Latin America and Africa; ministry in their parish communities, especially to youth; outreach to the elderly and infirm; their involvement in campus ministry activities with outreach to fellow college students; committed service to the hungry and the homeless; and the list goes on. After I finished reading these essays, I had to ask myself whether it is clear to others that faith makes such a difference in my life.

The Scripture readings for this Sunday demonstrate something of the difference that faith made in the lives of the first Christian believers. In a particular way, it was their Easter faith that made all the difference. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is one of the pithy descriptions of the first Christian community that Luke gives us. Perhaps it is a somewhat idealized depiction; we know from other texts that the first believers had their share of struggles just as we do. But this passage displays the joy and newness of life that marked the lives of those who came to believe in the crucified and risen Christ. They shared their possessions in common so that no member of the community was in need. They celebrated life and “broke bread” together – an early description of the ritual that would later be known as the Eucharist. They are described as eating their meals “with exultation and sincerity of heart.” Luke wants to make it crystal clear that for these Christians their faith in the One who had been raised from the dead made a palpable difference in their lives. And this difference must have been obvious to others because their numbers kept increasing.

The soaring passage from the First Letter of Peter also celebrates the gift of faith that had been received by Christians living in northern Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). These communities were small groups of Christians located in a hostile environment in the far-flung provinces of Asia Minor. This letter indicates that they had already experienced suffering for their faith in Christ. But the author begins his letter with a joyous recollection of the gift of new life in Christ. He blesses God who in his great mercy has given these believers “a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Easter makes all the difference; the saving love of God has triumphed over the powers of death and sin. These believers are invited to rejoice, even though they may experience opposition for their faith. The author describes the gift of faith they have received as “more precious than gold.” And, with an exquisite reflection on their faith in the risen Christ, he says, “Although you have not seen him you love him.” These believers have come to love the Christ in whom they believe, and this has made all the difference.

The famous Gospel story of “doubting Thomas” also invites us to reflect on the treasure of our faith. The presence of the risen Jesus brings peace to the frightened disciples who are imprisoned behind locked doors. Peace is the first gift of the risen Christ to his friends. And then they are blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and told to be bearers of the fruits of Christ’s victory to the world. Thomas, however, remains incredulous when the disciples report their initial encounter with the risen Lord. He needs to see and to touch. Unless the Lord meets his criteria, he will not move from unbelief to belief. After Thomas’ famous encounter with the Lord, who is risen with his wounds, Jesus makes a crucial statement: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

You and I are among those so blessed by Jesus. We are like the Christians to whom the First Letter of Peter was addressed. We have not seen – at least in the same way that Thomas and the other disciples saw in their encounters with the risen Christ. Our faith depends on their witness, on the apostolic testimony of the Church. Yet I suspect that all of us have had our own memorable encounters with Christ in a variety of circumstances – experiences which have left a deep impression on us. This faith in the risen Christ leads us to love this Lord who continues to walk with us all along the journey of our lives. “Although you have not seen him you love him.”

What difference does our faith – our Easter faith – really make in our lives? Has it led us to a genuine love of Christ? How has that changed the way we live, especially the way we relate to others? These are questions worth reflecting on as we continue to celebrate the Easter season. The “spiritual reading” I did this week, as I perused the personal essays written by our Catholics on Call applicants, convinced me that there are a lot of young adults whose faith makes a real difference in their lives. They sincerely love Christ, and it shows.

Fr. Robin Ryan, cp