Acts 2:42-47 / 1 Peter 1:3-9 / John 20:19-31
The words that we often hear nowadays are these two words - social distancing.
It was only fairly recently that we hear these two words being used.
And if we still don't know what that means, then we will certainly get into trouble with the law. Yes it is as serious as that.
With social distancing comes about new social practices like “Work from home” and “home based learning”
Being confined at home, whether for work or for learning, comes the lighter side of social distancing.
Some people are saying that being at home the whole day and with food readily available, the button and button-hole in the shirt and pants are also beginning to undergo social distancing.
But not that long ago, social distancing was practically unheard of. Human beings are also social beings, and to socially distant oneself from others may mean that one is an extreme introvert or a social misfit.
In the gospel we heard of one apostle who seemed to have socially distanced himself from the rest of the apostles.
We read in the gospel, that in the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in a room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.
Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, “Peace be with you”, and showed them His hands and His side.
So all the apostles saw the Risen Lord Jesus. All except one - Thomas.
And when they told him that they had seen the Risen Lord, Thomas refused to believe, unless he put his finger into the holes the nails have made and put his hand into that gaping wound at the side.
Why was Thomas not with the rest of the apostles, we were not told. Although that could be many possible reasons.
Thomas saw Jesus crucified, died and buried. It was a great disappointment for him. His hopes and dreams were shattered, and it was just too much for him.
But he probably didn't want to wallow in the company of the misery of the apostles.
So he went off on his own. He so-called socially distanced himself from the rest of the apostles.
Whatever it may be, the rest of the apostles probably went to look for him to tell him that Jesus had risen from the dead.
But he couldn't believe it. After all who had ever risen from the dead.
Still Thomas re-joined the apostles, and 8 days later Jesus came again, and this time it was to clear the doubts of Thomas.
And Thomas learned his lesson. He had distanced himself from the community when he saw Jesus died on the cross and was buried.
But now, he believed, and he proclaimed, “My lord and my God”.
Of all the apostles, it was Thomas who went far and covered the longest distance to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, going as far as to India, and maybe even further eastwards.
Thomas covered great distances to bring those who are distant from God and to bring them back to God so that they will experience mercy and forgiveness, just as he did.
So let us ask St. Thomas to help us, that in this time of social distancing, we will take this opportunity to get in contact with those whom we have neglected because of our busy lives.
It can be a text message, or a phone call, or even a video-call, as these are readily available.
Though we may have to be socially distant from each other, let us be spiritually united with the Risen Lord Jesus and with each other, and pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness on us and on the whole world.