What does it mean to rise with Christ?

Reading: John 20:19-31

Doubting Thomas. What did Thomas doubt? He doubted the word of his fellow disciples.

Remember, when Jesus insisted on going back to Judea where his life and those of his disciples would be in danger due to the death of Lazarus, it was Thomas who said, "Let us also go to die with him" (John 11:16). It seems that while Thomas knew what it might be mean to die with Christ, he did not know what it meant to rise with him. But, then, neither did the other members of the Twelve.

Because resurrection is to be lived and not just believed as some discrete historical fact, the question is, Do you know what it means to rise with Christ? Do you understand what it means to say Christ is risen?

In his final Urbi et orbi message, Pope Francis proclaimed: "Christ is risen!" He went on to assert- "These words capture the whole meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death but for life. Easter is the celebration of life! God created us for life and wants the human family to rise again!"

The Doubting Thomas,, by Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1882

The proof that we must learn what it means to rise with Christ is our propensity to keep sinning after we are baptized. In this regard, sin is doubt in the same sense Thomas doubted. It is an indication that you have not believed the testimony of witnesses to the Lord's resurrection.

Hence, every time you go confession, make a good confession, receive absolution, and complete your penance is yet another opportunity to believe. Another chance God, in His mercy, gives you to live the new life you received through baptism.

Perhaps the most distorted way to understand scripture is by looking down on those who, like Thomas, do "the wrong thing." This implies that under the same circumstances I would do better. In this case, I would believe those who told me that someone I know is dead because I saw him die, has come back to life.

It's interesting to note that nowhere in our Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter does the inspired author tell us that, even though invited by the Lord to do so, Thomas did touch His wounds. When exhorted by the Risen Christ not to be unbelieving but to believe, Thomas simply says, "May Lord and my God." He believes. Meaning he starts to learn what it means to rise with Christ.