Last Saturday evening at Easter vigils around the world, literally hundreds of thousands of people were baptized.

Given the new life of great grace and made members of our church community, that’s amazing. Literally hundreds of thousands. And in our own diocese there are two parishes. One had 75 baptized, the other had 70 baptized, as well as all of the other parishes where baptisms took place. Clearly, in our diocese there were over 500 baptized at Easter vigils.

That truly is just amazing. And likewise, these last week all over the United States, there were literally hundreds of thousands of jellybeans given out. Now, I don’t want to equate those who were baptized with jellybeans, but it still amazes me if the amount of candy that is consumed did Easter. But something else really amazes me. In all my years, I have discovered there are three categories of children.

Now. In the first category are those children to whom I say, Did the Easter Bunny come? Yes, the Easter Bunny came. Did he bring you candy? Yes, he brought me candy. Are you going to share it with me? No, it’s a flat out. No, there is no discussion. Then there are those children who get the questions. And when I get to, are you going to share it?

They say yes, and they give me a jelly bean, maybe even an egg. Who knows? Then there are the third group. This group immediately says no. What’s away then? Has the change of heart. Comes back and shares Easter candy. Now, if you had your choice, what group would you want to be in? Yes. No. Or change of heart.

Where are the. Yes. I’ll share with you immediate people. Thank you. Where are they? No, there’s not a chance you’re getting any people. There are some honest people in church. Where are they? No, but then I’ll have a change of mind and share. Okay. It’s very interesting, because that is exactly why we are here today to be in that group that may from time to time saying no.

But then we’ll have the change of heart for Ed sample in today’s gospel. Thomas How do we usually remember Thomas? What name have we given him? Doubting. He’s doubting Thomas because of today’s gospel reading, he doesn’t witness the resurrection. He doesn’t encounter the risen Christ. And so when he’s told about Christ, what does he do? No, I don’t believe.

And then he has the encounter with Christ and what does he say? My Lord and my God, He has the change of heart. Isn’t it interesting that we don’t remember Thomas, the one who had the change of heart? We remember doubting Thomas. Why is that? Could it be because we all have a doubt. And from time to time the doubt gets away?

Yes. In the way of the. Yes. Now, in John’s gospel a little earlier on, we have another encounter with Thomas just before the Lord is going to raise Lazarus from the dead. He says to the disciples, okay, it’s time for us to get on the move. We have to get going. What do the other disciples say? No, you can’t go there.

They’re looking to kill you. Jesus says, Doesn’t matter. I am going anyway. What this Thomas say, Let us all go and die with him. Thomas says an unconditional yes. What gets in the way? Is it fear for fear of the Jews? Is it disappointment? Jesus died on the cross. Is it hurt? How could this friend of mine lie to me?

What was it that blinded Thomas to the miracle of the resurrection? What is it this morning on Divine Mercy Sunday that is blinding us to the love and mercy of God? There is Thomas. Jesus appears a second time. He’s ashamed. He might be a little angry this time out himself. He loses all of that bluster until I put my finger into his hands, my hand in Riverside.

I will not believe what happened to all that bluster when he is encountering Christ Jesus, He simply says, I believe in those times of doubt. Are we disillusioned? Are we afraid? Are we angry? Are we filled with bluster? Prove it to me. God, then all believe. Well, this morning is the morning for us to literally put our hands into the hands of Jesus Christ.

No. Usually we say that Thomas touches Jesus because he doubts how ever. What if there is another reason? What if Jesus wanted to be touched by Thomas? What if Jesus wanted Thomas to literally feel the beating heart of love inside his chest? What if that touch of Thomas was Jesus allowing Thomas not to be touched by him? And this morning, do we need to be touched by the risen Lord?

Because in a moment, when we gather to receive the Eucharist, we are literally going to be touched by Jesus Christ and in this touch will we present our pain, our suffering, our grief, our disappointment, our anger, our despair, whatever it may be, now is the moment to turn to the heart of Jesus on Divine Mercy Sunday and feel the love and mercy of Christ.

Because Jesus says to Thomas, This is the way of love. My suffering, my death, my resurrection is the path to glory. We suffer, but we never, never despair. And Jesus goes on to say, Because I have suffered, I have risen, and I am here with you always. In today’s celebration, Divine Mercy Sunday, Saint John. The second gives us the apparition, the apparition of Divine Mercy.

And we are invited to come to the sight of Christ who to us. I know your pain. I know you are suffering. I know your difficulties. And what is our response? Lord Jesus, I place my trust in you This Divine mercy Sunday. Let us be like Thomas and place our trust in Jesus. Let us touch the Lord and be touched.

Because last Saturday in Easter vigils throughout the world, there were literally hundreds of thousands baptized. Given the new life of grace and the members of our church and literally on Easter last week, literally hundreds of thousands of jelly beans were given out and hundreds of thousands of Easter eggs and children everywhere in the world had three choices they could make Just say yes and share.

Just say no and not share to say no. Walk away and then have a change of heart and share what they have been given today. Like Thomas, we have a choice to say no, to say yes, to say no, and then walk away and walk to the heart of Jesus and say, Yes, Lord.