Fr. Robert J Carr is the editor of this blog

This week, the secular media reported that the Pope used his Easter Homily to rail against evolution. Upon reading the homily, it is obvious that the journalists did not understand it at all. Actually, the Pope follows a tradition of profound German theological thought. He is after all a contemporary of theologians like Karl Rahner. This homily is a classic example of deep Catholic philososphy and theology. It is no wonder the average secular journalist, not trained in understanding these dimensions, would not comprehend it.

So what did he say?

He spoke about the creation account in Genesis, pointing out that it is a prophesy. It is not to be taken as a mechanistic description of how the world began. Indeed, he said that it has never been Catholic teaching to look at it as a scientific description of the creation of the world. It goes deeper than that. He went on to say that through Genesis we understand God as pure creative reason who on the first day brings the universe into existence. The Pope shows how creation continues until it finally rests with God; this being the focus of creation. Benedict XVI then focuses on Easter where he shows that in the Jewish Calender Jesus raises on the first day. This is why we as Christians do not have a Sabbath. Sabbath refers to the Jewish day of rest. We celebrate the Lord’s day which is Sunday, the first day of the week. This, according to the Pope, indicates that in light of Genesis, Jesus is showing us that there is a new creation and we are new creations in Christ. This is the focus of Easter.

Indeed, you can see the theme of being new creations throughout the New Testament in the words of Saints Peter and Paul especially.

Let’s look at this in light of  today’s gospel about Thomas. I never consider him to be Doubting Thomas, but I call him “Refuse to Believe Thomas.” His words do not reflect doubt but obstinacy, a refusing to believe. This is not doubt (“I am not sure I can believe this.”) It is obstinacy (“I won’t believe this!”)

Jesus invites Thomas to believe. But what if He did not do this. What if Jesus said, “Tell Thomas that if he wants to refuse to believe, then let him.” We cannot imagine Jesus doing this, but this is just for a point. What would happen to Thomas? He would be the ex-apostle. You can imagine him in today’s world appearing on one talk show after another. “Next on Operah: The Ex-Apostle Who Left Jesus’ Group.” You can see him complaining that he expected Jesus to be the new leader of Israel and that this did not happen. Jesus did not meet his expectations so he left his company.

Fortunately, this did not happen. However, this is the reason why Thomas was obstinate: Jesus did not meet his expectations. He was not the messiah Thomas expected. Once he learned the truth, Thomas discovered that Jesus was beyond his expectations. He was beyond everything Thomas could imagine. This is who Jesus is and this is what we stand for.

Look around you. How many people tell us they hate the Catholic Church because we do not conform our standards to worldly standards. This is the obstinate spirit that wants a god who meets human expectations. However, Our God will always exceed them. So we don’t conform ourselves to the worldly standards. We instead seek the things above as St. Paul teaches, for this is our call as new creations in Christ. St. Peter warns against going back to our former way of life, going back to what we were. St. Paul calls us to be renewed in our minds and not to conform to the world.

Meanwhile, people, attack us because of our way of life. Yet, they are like Thomas seeking a god that conforms to their standards. Such a god is smaller than the human because he becomes slave to the human. Our God is greater than the human because He is beyond us. He will always exceed our expectations and we can only wait on Him to show this to us. So we must offer ourselves to Him so that He can transform us by his standards, not for us to transform Him to ours. We are new creations. Let us celebrate this in our lives as the Easter people that the are.

Let us let go of everything that leads us to return to the mud of the old creation and look forward as we grow towards the destiny of our being: Resting with God in the new creation.

God Bless You!

Fr. Robert J Carr
Fr. Carr is an alliance member of the New Song Community (Canção Nova). He is the pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Somerville, MA and is the editor of this blog. You may also find his videos in English at Gloria.tv. He also has a regular radio program on  WebRadio Canção Nova. Which he podcasts on the Canção Nova podcast website and on Catholicismanew.