Sunday 16th April 2023 - Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday

Acts 2:42-47/ Psalm 117(118)/ 1 Peter 1:3-9/ John 20:19-31

Where would we be if we all behaved like Thomas? When told by his friends that Jesus was alive and they had seen him Thomas, rather arrogantly, stated, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’

We accept many things on trust. Most of our education is based on believing what others have established for themselves or on things that have been passed down from generation to generation. Yes, we must be careful of what we believe from others. These days we see much that is circulated on social media which is clearly nonsense and sometimes damaging and alarmist. We use our ability to apply the powers of reason to what we see, hear, and read to come to an understanding of how things are.

Our legal system is based on accepting the word of others grounded on a promise that they will tell the truth. The members of a jury and the judges sitting in court where not present when the matters before them occurred. They are called to listen to testimony put before them from people who were present or who have detailed knowledge of the case under consideration and then, applying reason, they come to an understanding of the truth.

Thomas was not present when Jesus made his first appearance to the others in the group. Thomas knew all of them and presumably did not consider any of them to be deceitful liars but still he would not take them at their word, stubbornly refusing to believe unless he saw for himself. He did not have to wait long. Jesus again joined the group; this time Thomas was there and had to undergo the humiliation of Jesus telling him to touch his wounds so that he might believe.

Thomas then made the profound statement, ‘My Lord and my God’, a statement that goes beyond merely accepting that Jesus was indeed alive but that he now recognised him as God. Jesus responded to Thomas saying, ‘happy are those who have not seen and yet believe’. The same point is made in the second reading when we read, ‘You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe;’

We are the people who have not seen Jesus in the flesh, have not put our fingers into his wounds, yet we believe. We come together every week to be close to Jesus and to receive his body and blood in communion with all God’s family throughout the world. When we see the priest lift the host at the consecration, we can make the profession of faith that Thomas made our own prayer of faith, ‘My Lord and my God’. This faith without seeing requires us to be humble in our response to God’s love.

The first reading describes a church of prayer, excitement and faith in action. An ideal that we should strive to recapture in our time, remaining as one community faithful to the teachings of the apostles and their descendants, to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and reliant on prayer. Does everyone look up to us as Christians today? If not, why not? We need to return to the ideals of the early church, living peacefully together in a world where all have access to the resources provided by God through creation. Not a world in which resources are claimed by the few and sold to those who can afford them. Not a world of disunity, unfairness, and disregard for the poor and needy.

On this second Sunday of Easter we consider the gifts we have received from God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The unlimited mercy poured out for us far exceeds our sinfulness. The message of God’s mercy is not a new one but we get reminders from time to time to free us from the entrapment of sin. Since the year 2000 this second Sunday of Easter has been designated as Divine Mercy Sunday. Through the life and devotion of a simple and humble Polish nun, Sister Faustina Kowalska, we receive a message of mercy from Jesus with the prayer, 'Jesus, I trust in you’. Jesus told Sister Faustina, ‘Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy’. Having received mercy from God we have a duty to show mercy to others. The readings today show us how God’s mercy can permeate our lives, repairing divisions and broken relationships, building a solidarity within the Christian community.

Pope Francis has said, ‘the name of God is Mercy’. It is not easy to show the mercy of God to others, but it is the model of total self-giving we receive from Jesus that is our example. The message of Easter helps us to look at others with new eyes, the eyes of Jesus, fostering selfless giving, solidarity with those suffering so badly in our world, and by showing the mercy of forgiveness to all just as God shows forgiveness to us. Each of us is precious to God and Jesus gave himself totally for every one of us. As Christians we are called to follow Christ and give ourselves in the same way.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday let our prayer, through Saint Faustina, be that we become increasingly aware of the depth of God’s Divine mercy. That we experience it and spread it amongst those around us. That Divine Mercy calls sinners to repentance, puts an end to hatred and bitterness, bringing peace and harmony in our hearts, our homes, our country, and the whole world. Jesus, I trust in you.

God Bless Brendan.