The readings of Easter Season are my favorite. In them, every year, we are given a glimpse of the disciples’ reactions to Jesus’ resurrection and their first steps in forming community following Jesus’ teachings. Today’s readings are no exception. Chronologically, our Gospel (Jn 20:19-31) happens first. There, we hear the famous story of “doubting Thomas,” but did you notice how the story starts? It says that, a week before meeting with Thomas, Jesus appears to “the disciples” who were together in a locked room. Then, “a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them.” Our First Reading (Acts 2:42-47), happening later, says, the earliest Christians “devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life… All who believed were together and had all things in common… Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. … And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Obviously, community was really important to the first Christians, and the example they gave through shared testimony and modeling their way of life proved to be so impactful that we are still talking about them, and Jesus!
What about us? In a world where isolation and an “I did it my way” type attitude often prevail, it can help to remember that community strengthens faith. After all, it is in community, where we see the example of others who are navigating life’s trials with faith and grace, letting us feel like we can do it too. Stories of saints, especially contemporary ones like St. Carlo Acutis and St. Teresa of Calcutta, are inspiring, but our “everyday saints,” those “saints” right in our midst, often have more of an impact on us. Think of the mom who juggles crazy hours working at the hospital, but always assures that her family is at Mass on Sunday, or the single person who could be out socializing, but instead, chooses to volunteer in our faith formation program. Their example of prioritizing faith and service are often incredibly inspiring, helping us to live our faith more fully.
But what about Thomas? There are always going to be doubters in our midst. Heck, at times we might be the doubters! That is the beauty of community. When we are strong, it’s our job as believers to be lifting others up. When we are struggling, we should be able to look to our brothers and sisters in faith for an outstretched hand of support. Being “community” for others allows us the opportunity to spread the love of Christ through our actions. Hopefully, we can all think of examples of this principle in action, whether it has been a meal delivered when we were sick, or a shared conversation to see how life has been going.
It is worth pondering—How has community played a role in my faith?
