Divine Mercy Sunday

*** 1st Reading ***

Acts 4:32-35

The whole community of believers

Was one in heart and mind. No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but rather they shared all things in common.   With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for all of them were living in an exceptional time of grace.

 There was no needy person among them, for those who owned land or houses, sold them and brought the proceeds of the sale.   And they laid it at the feet of the apostles who distributed it according to each one’s need.

 

Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love is everlasting.

 

*** 2nd Reading ***

1 John 5:1-6

All those who believe that Jesus is the Anointed, are born of God; whoever loves the Father, loves the Son. How may we know that we love the children of God? If we love God and fulfill his commands,  for God’s love requires us to keep his commands.

In fact, his commandments are not a burden  because all those born of God overcome the world. And the victory which overcomes the world is our faith. Who has overcome the world? The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

 Jesus Christ was acknowledged through water, but also through blood. Not only water but water and blood. And the Spirit, too, witnesses to him for the Spirit is truth.

 

**** Gospel ****

John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews, but Jesus came and stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace be with you”; then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples kept looking at the Lord and were full of joy.

 Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this he breathed on them and said to them, “Re­ceive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”

 Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

 Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.”

 Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.”

There were many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; believe and you will have life through his Name.

 

Gospel Reflection

Read:

The disciples are still afraid to venture out since their Master had been crucified to death. Amidst locked doors the Lord stood in their midst and greeted them with peace. They were overjoyed but when recounting to Thomas who was not there when the incident happened. He would not believe. It is only when Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples with Thomas around that the latter believed. The other deeds of the Risen Lord were not recorded except those written so that those who read would believe.

Reflect:

Despite the many resurrection appearances of the Lord, many of the brethren still do not believe. It is probably a hot issue vigorously debated by those who believe and those who doubt. The strange thing is, in those conversations that followed after the women reported the empty tomb, no one ever cited the Lord’s teachings concerning His death and eventual resurrection. It is as if they never heard about it. As a matter of fact, Jesus has to explain the fate of the Messiah as written in the scriptures. This forgetfulness of the Lord’s teaching concerning what will happen to Him is what made belief difficult for some. So, Jesus has to manifest Himself several times before the gathered brethren. It is because of these repeated appearances that the resurrection of Jesus becomes the cornerstone of the Good News. It is a faith statement produced after the small band of the Lord’s followers experienced it to the point that there is no more room for doubt among them.

Respond:

There are faith statements in our Church that becomes firm conviction when we have real experience of them in our daily lives. Let us look back and see in what event or area of our life did these faith statements become concretizecd or made real for us.