On the evening of that first day, Jesus passes through the locked doors of the upper room and the locked doors of the disciples hearts and he comes to them in their grief, their fear and their disbelief and he brings the gift of peace to confused, anxious and frightened hearts. He then shows them his precious, glorious wounds. These wounds are no longer bleeding and spilling blood but they are now source of light and grace. These wounds are not crying out for justice, judgment and retribution but they are now open portals of mercy and forgiveness. Jesus does not rebuke and admonish his disciples for their weakness and failure but he shows them mercy and offers them forgiveness and new life. He breathes on them and fills them with the breath of the Spirit of new life. His breath of new life sets their hearts on fire so that their hearts are burning within them with the fire of the Holy Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This gift of Divine Mercy, of forgiving love and of new life changes everything. A love that had grown cold and uncertain in the fear and anxiety their hearts had experienced in the crucifixion and death of Jesus, was now ardent, awe-struck and filled with devotion.
St. Peter, in our second reading today, will later write to the early Church: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1Pet 1,3-9) Peter has personally come to know this great mercy. He has experienced this new birth in the Spirit that tests with fire, and he now dwells in love, belief and a living hope that leads to a glorious joy in salvation. Peter remembers the words of the Risen Lord to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (Jn 20,29)
The Acts of the Apostles tells us about those who have been blessed with an ardent and devoted love, a fire-tried faith and a living hope as we are told of the early church community that “devoted themselves” to their life of faith. The early church lived a life of devoted love, a devout life. This is a community of believers that has been set on fire with the love of the Holy Spirit that has been poured into their hearts. We are told that: “Every day they devoted themselves…” (Acts 2,46) Devotion was their state of life that allowed them to live in joy each and every day.
St. Frances De Sales speaks to us about the devout life, “The difference between love and devotion is just that which exists between fire and flame;--love being a spiritual fire which becomes devotion when it is fanned into a flame;--and what devotion adds to the fire of love is that flame which makes it eager, energetic and diligent, not merely in obeying God's Commandments, but in fulfilling His Divine Counsels and inspirations… In order to be devout, not only must we want to do the will of God, we must do it joyfully… Not only should you be devout and love the devout life, but you should be making that life beautiful to behold. Now, it will be beautiful to the extent to which it is useful and agreeable to others.” (St. Frances De Sales) A devout life is a consecrated life, a vowed life - not just the life of monks and priests - but the ordinary lives of all of God’s people. Everyone can live a love that is committed, zealous, faithful and ardent. A devout love is not an emotional or sentimental feeling, it is a conscious act of the will to be committed to an eternal and more perfect love that is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It is not merely compliant with a set of rules but it is committed to a way of life.
St. Paul tells Timothy: “For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” (2Tim 1,6ff) Devoted love is not just a warm feeling but is a living flame that burns within every person who binds themselves to the love of God. St. Paul urges Timothy: “Train yourself for devotion, for, while physical training is of limited value, devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of life both for the present and for the future. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. For this we toil and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all, especially of those who believe.” (1Tim 4,7-10) We should not settle for a love of God that at times grows cold but we should strive for a devout love that is ardent and that endures through all trials and testing.
The Acts of the Apostles tells us today of four areas in which the early church was devoted: the teaching of the apostles, the life of the community, the breaking of the bread which is the Eucharistic celebration, and prayer. This is the path to a true, indescribable and glorious joy in our lives that persists even through trials and hardships. Somehow we seem to have lost a sense of the value of a devout life lived in the flames of devotion. The practice of our faith has become lukewarm and inconstant. We have settled for a smoldering wick rather than a burning flame. Our relationship with God is not only inconsistent but it is seen as being irrelevant to our daily lives. Our Church today can learn from the early Church the beauty and value of devotion. Every day we need to devote ourselves to living our faith and making it beautiful again in these four areas:
1) The teaching of the apostles: we need to know our faith and what and why we believe;
2) The life of the community: we need to be involved in our parish community and use our gifts in service to one another;
3) The breaking of the bread: we need to make the Sunday Eucharist our greatest priority;
4) Prayer: we need a regular and committed time of daily, devotional and family prayer; a time to daily commune with God.
And as a missionary and evangelizing Church we need to hand on and teach devotion to our children and others with whom we share our lives.
Today Jesus shows the disciples his glorious wounds that are deep wells of grace and mercy. In the glorious wounds of Christ we see that Jesus not only loved his own in this world but that he loved them to the end. Jesus shows us the proof that he is devoted to humanity. The wounds of Jesus, shining with light, are beautiful signs of Divine Mercy and devoted love. In the glorious wounds of Jesus we see that he has paid the price for our sins. From the side of Jesus, from his pierced Sacred Heart, two rays of Divine Mercy, blood and water, flow out to form the sacramental life of the Church and the grace that heals all the wounds caused by our sins. St. John entreats us in his letter to the Church: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.” (1Jn 4,11f)
What are you doing with your time? Are you training for devotion and ready to come to the Church and community flaming with love? Are you, every day, devoting yourself to the daily practice of your faith? Easter is the season to be renewed in your love for Jesus Christ and to celebrate a new life as you share in his resurrection. Set your heart on fire and be awesome and wonderful in living your faith! Amen! Alleluia!