Divine Mercy Sunday

(4/27/2025) Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31

 

“Unless I See - I Will Not Believe”

 

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!

 

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo

     Elizabeth Barrett Browning began what is perhaps the most eloquent love poem in the English language by asking, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” In this Second Sunday of Easter we can do well to count the ways in which God shows his love and mercy for us, especially through his mercy and forgiveness.

 

     Baptism is first. Through the waters of Baptism we are washed clean and with all sins forgiven we are born anew as daughters and sons of God. We enter the family of God in this earth, his Church. Throughout our lives as God's children, like other children, we make mistakes. We fall short of family expectations. At times with each other we become neglectful, quarrelsome, and selfish rather than thoughtful, cooperative, and generous. Even toward our heavenly father we are not always as respectful and grateful as we should be. None of these sins is so serious as to exclude us from the family, but that does not mean that we should ignore them. God does not consider them insignificant. He offers us a means of forgiveness. The means he offers is the Holy Eucharist. Within the celebration of the Mass, we acknowledge our sinfulness. With contrition in our heart, we receive the body of the Lord given up for us and his blood poured out for us so that sins may be forgiven. This sacrament forgives our venial sins.

 

     Still more. The sacrament of Penance proclaims to us that, no matter what, God reaches out to us prodigal children to embrace us in the warmth of his forgiving arms. Mortal sins must be brought to this sacramental cleansing, but we may always submit our venial sins to the power of this sacrament, especially those which we recognize as serious or particularly troublesome and habitual.

 

     After Jesus' resurrection, many signs and wonders occurred among the people through the hands of the apostles, the first ministers of the Church. The signs which we enjoy now are the sacraments. The wonders are the powers granted to the Church to forgive our sins.

 

     On that momentous night when Christ appeared to the apostles, St. Thomas was absent. Without seeing the risen Christ, he refused to believe. We do not see Christ in the sacraments but we are blessed indeed to believe that through the sacraments of the Church, Christ forgives our sins.

 

     Within the act of absolution the priest prays for us: “Through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace.” That ministry of the Church began on the night of Christ's resurrection and has continued through all the centuries and even now graces our lives.
 

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Meditation: Do you know the joy of the resurrection? 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.

Live and proclaim the Gospel of mercy in the power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus did something which only love and trust can do. He commissioned his weak and timid apostles to bring the good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This sending out of the disciples is parallel to the sending out of Jesus by his heavenly Father. Jesus fulfilled his mission through his perfect love and obedience to the will of his Father. He called his first disciples and he now calls each one of us to do the same. Just as he gave his first disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit, so he breathes on each of us the same Holy Spirit who equips us with new life, power, joy, and courage to live each day as followers of the Risen Lord.

The last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. The apostle Thomas was a natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after receiving news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). While Thomas deeply loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion and crucifixion. After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of trial and adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he doubted his own fellow apostles.

Through the gift of faith we recognize the Risen Lord and receive new life
When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, the Lord 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. Do you believe in the good news of the Gospel and in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring you new life, hope, and joy?

Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of sin and darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection.

   read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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