2nd Sunday Of Easter (Divine Mercy) – His Mercy Endures Forever, Alleluia, Jn 20: 19-31
Today is the second Sunday of Easter. It is and also, the Divine Mercy Sunday. On this special Sunday, the Church continues to delight in the joy the risen Christ. As we celebrate today in lockdown we should view this time as an opportunity to receive the wondrous gift of peace.
Today’s first reading recounts the new zeal, the new love, and the new spirit of the early Christian community. A people who used to be afraid of the Jews and persecution, now have been transformed to a courageous people.
In the second reading, Peter draws our attention to the mercy of God towards us. In his mercy, God has given us a new birth by allowing us to share in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ: “So that we have a sure hope, and the promise of an inheritance that can never be destroyed.”
In today’s gospel, Jesus presented Himself to his disciples. During this very important visit, He dispelled their fears and doubts. He restored their peace, and commissioned them as ministers of the sacrament of reconciliation.
The Risen Lord Jesus revealed the glory of His resurrection to His disciples gradually and over a period of time. Even after the apostles saw the empty tomb and heard the reports of Jesus’ appearance to the women, they were still weak in faith and fearful of being arrested by the Jewish authorities.
When Jesus appeared to them He offered proofs of His resurrection by showing them the wounds of His passion, His pierced hands and side. He calmed their fears and brought them peace, the peace which reconciles sinners and makes us friends of God.
When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, Jesus made His presence known to him and reassured him that He had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God!
Through the gift of faith we, too, proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in Him. The Lord offers each of us new life in His Holy Spirit that we may know Him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection.
As we celebrate divine mercy Sunday today, we are reminded that God extended His mercy to us by allowing His Son to pay the ransom for our sins.
Finally, we too must extend this mercy to others. Hence, we are called to be apostles of mercy. So, as we spread the good news of Christ’s resurrection, we must give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is because His mercy and generosity endures forever.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Fr John Paul Pasala
Parish Priest
19 April 2020
