Homily
2nd Sunday of Easter A2
Divine Mercy Sunday
12 April 2026
St. Ann Catholic Church - Prairie Village
AMDG
Where do I go with my doubts?
I had the chance to take some hard-hitting questions from our 7th graders this week. I was impressed with the courage and honesty. They weren't being brats, cleverly doubting their faith just to be cool. They listened as I tried to give real responses to real doubts about God's existence and goodness. There's great hope in these young people. Believe me.
Now a couple of their questions weren't that great. Where did God come from? Do pets get to heaven? Those weren't the best. The better ones centered around whether abortion is ever necessary to save the life of a mother. And why did God make human freedom if he could foresee the abuse, torture and unfair suffering of innocent children?
I told them it was up to them as to whether the reality of human freedom is worth the price of human suffering. Without human freedom there is no drama, no story, no glory, no struggle, no purpose, no victories or defeat, no consequences. There's just the resignation that it is what it is. So most people say the interplay of freedom and suffering is worth it. The ultimate answer is not whether life is fair, but whether Jesus is doing anything about it, and whether He has invited me to play a part.
Jesus welcomed the doubts of Thomas. He welcomes the questions of our 7th graders. He welcomes your fears. He asks you to probe your questions within His glorious wounds, so that you can say whether the love of Christ really does overcome all evils; whether believing in the Resurrection makes any difference.
The early Church entered into a voluntary communism, just like families and monasteries and churches do, so we can explore our doubts together. The first Christians showed up for each other, for the koinonia, the breaking of the bread, the teaching and the prayers, and were overjoyed to explore a love stronger than death together. They put their lives within the wounds and paschal mystery of the Risen Christ, and found encouragement to suffer courageously for their faith.
The decision of you to show up today, the passing of the offertory as a sign of the life we share, and the sacrament of reconciliation that keeps us accountable to our common rule of life, our religion, and of our commitment to put our doubts and fears in the wounds of Christ, in the paschal mystery of our Lord, encouraging one another to grow stronger in that love that is greater than suffering, and that redeems everything it touches.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Only you can say whether showing up here is worth it, whether his Divine Mercy endures forever, and whether we all have a part of play in the glorious victory of life over death.
+mj
