Weekly HOMILY for April 15, 2007: From Suffering to Empowerment

Second Sunday of Easter, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
April 15, 2007

From Suffering to Empowerment
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


Bill W: Suffering to Power

One day, back in the early 1900’s, a longtime alcoholic named Bill W. visited a home for recovering alcoholics in New York City.

On the orders of his doctor, he went into the room of a young man to show him the effects of drinking, but surprisingly, Bill W. found himself speaking to the young man with great passion.

He spoke of the dangers of drinking and of the human need for a Greater Power in your life.

As a result of this passionate sharing Bill W. found himself changed. He went on to found Alcoholics Anonymous which is based on this very same kind of sharing.

Something else Bill W. learned is that personal peace and empowerment are always connected to adversity and that his adversity is the very breeding ground for transformation.

What is takes to be transformed is: (1) First, to admit and own up to the suffering, struggle, and weakness in our lives. As we do that, (2) We are given the opportunity to reach out to a Greater Power – the Power of God. (3) Only then, do we experience the gifts that come from that God.

And those gifts are an inner peace or calm, and a personal power or empowerment for living our lives in a fulfilling and happy way.


Thomas: From Suffering to Empowerment

I suggest that we see this same experience or dynamic at work in today’s Gospel.

Thomas is feeling lost, disappointed and afraid. He is confused and doubting and searching.

What does Thomas want, when the other apostles say that they have seen the risen Jesus? He wants to see evidence of the suffering.

Thomas wants to see the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side. If he sees these, then he will know that it is Jesus and he will be able to believe.

The idea is that Jesus had submitted himself on the cross to the Father and Thomas will also be able to do the same thing. And this is exactly what happens.

Thomas sees Jesus’ wounds and this moves him to bring his sufferings and struggles, his doubts and questions to that Greater Power. We see this so clearly when he calls Jesus “My Lord and my God.”

And then, we have to imagine that the results for Thomas are the same as they are for others Apostles. He, like the others, must have experienced the peace that flows from Jesus and that Jesus even verbally imparts here.

And then Thomas must also have experienced the power or empowerment within himself. With the other apostles, he received the power of forgiveness and set out to bring God’s love and reconciliation to others.


You and I: From Suffering to Empowerment

So I would first ask you, where is your pain? Is it loneliness or worry? Is it uncertainty or doubt? Is it betrayal or another’s hostility?

Is it a struggle with sickness or some kind of compulsive behavior? Where are you in pain? Where do you struggle or suffering?

(1) We too need to own or admit this. And then (2) We need to reach out and submit ourselves to that Greater Power, as Bill W. says, in other words, to God. I recommend that we join Thomas in submitting to Jesus and saying, “My Lord and my God.”

If we do that, then (3) We will receive the gifts that flow from God. We will experience an inner peace right in the midst of our distress or struggle or pain.

And we will experience a power or empowerment for living: for reaching out to others even in loneliness, for persevering in pain, for managing our compulsive behavior – whatever the suffering or struggle may be.


Conclusion

Yes, what happened for Bill W. and for Thomas can happen for us.

It depends on only one thing – on our willingness – willingness to admit our need and to submit ourselves and our sufferings to God.

If we do that, then we allow God’s peace and power to flow into us and to change our lives.