Mary Oliver has many sayings that are popular. One that I like is: “Tell me what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I would like to share with you one wild and precious moment in my life. My mother was beset with several major illnesses through out her life. She had great faith in St. Anne so daily prayed to her for healing. Each morning when I went to Mass I invoked St. Anne to help my mother. As time went along I somewhat became interested in religious life. My mother was not too pleased to hear this news. She told me she had another prayer to good St. Anne. The prayer went like this: Good St. Anne, send me a man! Now I am a believer in our prayers being answered. However not in my wildest dreams would I have guessed she would send her GRANDSON, Jesus. Be careful what you pray for from St. Anne!

I am sure we all could tell stories about our wild and precious moments in life. Beginning with our novitiate days and the mysteries that they held for us. From what I have heard some were rather on the wild side. I have heard about the precious moments of people growing into an intimate relationship with the Risen Christ. What about those precious moments in our ministry experiences? Remember our precious moment of the call to be HOPE? Remember our forming new relationships in our community chapters? All of this teaches that in the midst of the resurrection promise each of us needs to be ready for the surprising ways of God’s salvation. The Spirit of truth constantly calls us to new identities and new configurations of widening our tents. The power of the Spirit moved the disciples out of hiding and put them where they worked many wonders. Just as the disciples reached out to the sick and those disturbed with unclean spirits we are challenged today to reach out to others. For God’s grace is in Hope’s common concern for those in most need.

The first word Jesus offered were both greeting and gift. “Peace be with you.” He knew what was in the disciples’ hearts why they had barred the door. He saw right through them and knew that they weren’t re-grouping, weren’t getting it together, weren’t deciding on their next move, that is, how they were going to carry on Jesus’ legacy or spreading his teaching. Obviously they had not heard of the organic model! They were scared and hiding out. Yet, suddenly in their midst of fear and confusion, there he was, not with angels, not with trumpets, nor with legions but quietly bringing peace. He gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit as he breathed the Spirit INTO them.

At creation, God breathed life into us humans, a tender, intimate, up-close and personal moment, and here we are again, with Jesus not holding his disciples at arms’ length but re-creating this sorry crew of weak disciples. The very life-force of the One raised from the dead tells them to go out, bring peace and forgiveness /and give love to the world.

What about Thomas, one of the faithful – who goes down in history forever as “doubting Thomas” for his refusal to accept the testimony of others, but demanded his own experience of the risen Christ. What took him away from the community that day? Had they drawn lots for someone to venture out for food? Had they gotten into another quarrel about who was the greatest and Thomas left in a huff? Or had he just gone off in his grief to compose himself? We’ll never know – but the possibilities are abounding with the humanness of these early Christians: they didn’t always get it right, either! Imagine, missing one Sunday, and coming back to hear “Guess who showed up while you were gone?”Would you believe it?

But what about Thomas’ other name, “The Twin?” Who is this other twin? I am the other twin, and unless I miss my guess, so are you. Our “eyes” see facts while our hearts see “truth”. Perhaps for Thomas it was the first time that he saw not just “the facts of Jesus,” but the truth of who Jesus was for him.”Perhaps we’ve had a similar experience in “seeing” Jesus. Every once in a while in our churches when there is a pause in our endless babbling about Jesus there is for a moment or two his presence in the silence of waiting and listening. What a challenge for a church that is often more grounded in words than in THE WORD! Seeing Jesus with heart is not only to believe in him it is to take heart, to grow true hearts and to have brave hearts.

Thomas is often pointed to as the icon of the later church: The second, third, and umpteenth generation of Christians who inherit the stories of the risen Christ, but must, at some point insist on their own experience of Christ. In that way, Thomas becomes for us not a symbol of faithlessness, but of courage. To trust that there are no doubts so profound that God cannot answer – to believe that Jesus cares enough to show up a second time – a third time – an umpteenth time – to BREATHE that breath of life INTO US.

Jesus is really talking to us when he says: “ Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Eugene Peterson translates this statement as: “Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” Even better blessings. That is the promise to the church one week after our beautiful Easter services.

However it is back to our lives with their own “overwhelming concerns”: two wars that drag on, our Iraqi Sisters daily experiences of terrorism, religious life as we have known it is dying, the pollution of our environment, the hundreds of thousands of children and women trafficked, the abuse crisis in the church, facing our death as a Congregation, too much worry, and so much to fear. What’s an overwhelmed person of faith to do? How are we to live “as Easter people?”

Whatever overwhelms us; God comes to us in the midst of our fear and says: “Peace be with you.” Whatever doubts churn in our minds, whatever walls we have put up or doors we have locked securely, God comes to us and says:”Peace be with you.” Whatever hunger and need we feel deep in our souls, God calls us to the table, feeds us well, and sends us out into the world to be justice and peace, salt and light, hope for the world. We can do it, if we keep our eyes open, our minds and our hearts soft and willing to love. As God sent Jesus, God sends us, too, into the world that God loves.

The narrative in John’s reading for today concludes with a beatitude that reaches out to all future generations of believers; moved by the Spirit and responsive to Jesus’ challenge to believe, we too are blessed. We are mandated by the Holy Spirit to be Holy Preachers of the Good News, in all we are, in all we say, and in all we do.

Today we remember in a special way the signs and wonders of our Jubilarians. Their joy and praise are their gift of HOPE that reaches out to the community, to the church and to the world. As you meet and greet them share with them how they were a wild and precious moment in your life.

Let us all go forth sharing one of our wild and precious moments of our life in Hope!! For this is Easter joy!!