Divine Mercy Sunday
Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Reading 1
The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.
It is easy to see how the early Christians stood out to the rest of the world isn’t it? How would you compare our lives as Christians within society today compared to this reading? Do you read this and desire to see this realized again? What draws you to this reading? What perhaps repels you? (It’s okay I have read this and been ‘relieved’ this isn’t the ‘norm’). Where does the risen Christ seek to stir your heart in these words? Is there an area of your life or an upcoming event that allows you to live more like the apostles?
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
I was hard pressed and falling but the Lord helped me. What an appropriate psalm following the first reading! It can be easy to feel discouraged after that one! It is still Easter week and we are still celebrating the victory of Christ in the world and over our Lent. Last week I asked where Jesus was rolling stones away in your life, this week, where do you perhaps feel hard pressed and fallen? I know that first reading gives me food for thought. The beauty of the Resurrected Jesus is that WE ARE NOT ALONE in this fight. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love is EVERLASTING!
Reading 2
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
For the love of God is this, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. Let me ask you this, over the course of Lent, did your Lenten resolve become harder or easier? God does not call us to be Sisyphus. He does not desire our constant uphill battle with the same old rock. Jesus’ death and resurrection bring us into the inheritance of His victory over death and sin. It is in seeking to love God first, not obey, but to love and know God that this inheritance becomes realized. If there are areas of your life where you feel more like sisyphus, how can you spend a little more time getting to know God and grow deeper into love with Him?
Gospel
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
But he said to them,
"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
What fears in your life lock doors to our Lord? We all have fears that creep up, nag at our hearts. This too, often feels like the rock of sisyphus doesn’t it? Jesus seeks to stand in each of our midst and say, “Peace be with you.” How do we open the door? St. John tells us in the closing words of this Gospel. We read God’s Word. We read the eternal story of God’s deliverance of those He loves. We read them and pray for the faith to believe them. We have a secret weapon at our disposal. It is the same secret weapon given to the disciples in the upper room, Holy Spirit. Call upon the Holy Spirit often: when you fall short, when you are anxious, when you face doubts (like Thomas), when you feel like Sisyphus. Come, Holy Spirit Come! We move from Lent to Easter to Pentecost. We follow in the footsteps of the disciples year after year because our walk with the Lord to eternity must follow the same pattern. We must seek to open our hearts to Him in Lent that we may receive the Good News of Easter and be prepared to more fully realize the super power of Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
