BE PRESENT

April 12, 2026 – Second Sunday of Easter

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041226.cfm)

Usually we doubt a number of truths  in life because they are beyond our comprehension. Because we cannot understand them for they seems do not make sense to us, we readily doubt if what is presented before us is really true and sincere. So also, many at time in life, we struggle to find God through our signs and evidences, in our own darkness and loneliness, in our own viewpoints, comprehension and understanding that usually lead us nowhere but doubt and unbelief.

But actually, doubt and unbelief happen whenever and because we are just asleep – not aware or not awake and present enough to recognize what has been presented right before us. And so, it is hard & slow for us to believe because we are not fully aware & present with what is going on & happening to us objectively.

Joan Chittister, a known lady-theologian once said: “It takes a lifetime to really understand that God is in what is standing in front of us. Most of our lives are spent looking straining to see the God in the cloud, behind the mist, beyond the dark. It is when we face God in one another, in creation, in the moment that the real spiritual journey begins”.

Very true, indeed, we do tend to look for something else while searching for God who is already right before and in front of us. In other words, Easter – the Lord’s resurrection only happens, makes sense and becomes meaningful to us, if and when we are present enough to acknowledge and believe in the Risen Lord as He reveals Himself to us face to face, in front of us, in our Church, our community of believers.

This is what Jesus is trying to reveal and teach his apostles then and us now in our gospel today. As the community of disciples hid themselves asleep in fear for the authority, in shame for abandoning their master, and in hopelessness and defeat for the death of the Lord, Jesus, now the Risen Lord came and shown Himself to them, saying: “Peace Be with you”.

Take note, Jesus reveals and presents Himself – make Himself known to them in order to tell them: “Not doubt but believe Him”, that is to wake them up from doubt, and to wake up their faith in Him again. The Risen Lord thus presents Himself before and in the Church to wake up our faith in Him anew so that we may experience God’s glory being offered to us once again.

And He continues to reveal Himself again and always to us in our Church, and whenever we are PRESENT in our Christian faith-community.

Remember, Thomas doubted the risen Lord because “he was not there when Jesus came”. Meaning, he was absent – not there but somewhere else – when the Lord revealed Himself for the first time. Thomas then is known as doubting Thomas because at first, he is an absent & isolating or distancing Thomas. In the same way, whenever we absent, isolate & distance  ourselves with our community, we doubt and can not experience Easter & Lord’s resurrection. But whenever we are present with ourselves and our community, we experience and believe in the Resurrection of our Lord.

Remember the Lord consistently Himself to us by saying: “It IS I, Do not be afraid.” Consider then that doubt is not opposite of faith but fear. But the greatest hindrance to awareness & faith is doubt.

And so, do not doubt but believe the Gospel – trust in Him who is being and yet to be revealed to us in our community of faith. BE  PRESENT as the Lord presents Himself & is present in our Church.

May we be more aware to acknowledge & predispose ourselves to believe as the risen Lord continually reveals Himself to us & in us now & always.

So May It Be. Amen.