SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, YR C
Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118;
Rev. 1:9-11a, 13-15, 17-19; John 20:19-31
THE DIVINE MERCY
Today, the second Sunday of Easter we celebrate the feast of the Divine Mercy to end the Octave of Easter. It is one of the recent additions of feasts to the General Roman Calendar by St. John Paul II.
The Divine Mercy feast was revealed in the spiritual experiences and revelations of St. Faustina Kowalska. In these revelations Jesus revealed to her how much he loved mankind and how it pains him that many people continue to suffer the bondage of sin, the torments and deceptions of the devil in spite of his mercy. His mercy is always available to men. Many continue to suffer because they have turned away from his mercy.
The Lord directed St Faustina to draw the image of the Divine Marcy, which is an image of Jesus with two rays streaming from his heart: one is red which signifies the blood of Jesus which is the life of souls and the pale signifies water which makes souls righteous. The Lord desired that this image should be visibly displayed and venerated especially on this Sunday.
Throughout scripture God has revealed his mercy to us. From the very beginning we see the Merciful God. When man sinned for the first time and lost it all, his innocence, friendship with God, He (God) came to the aid of man. He immediately fashioned a garment for them to cover their shame and nakedness.
Even though he sent them out of the garden he continued to look after man with his mercy so that in his wonder out of the garden, man may learn to return to him. In the midst of all this the Lord gave a promise of hope. He pronounced the judgement of mercy “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel” (Gen 3:15). In his dealing with mankind, he has always identified himself as “the Lord, a God merciful and gracious” (Ex. 34:6). God has always been forgiving and hoping in our ability to do better.
In the fullness of time, he sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you and I. This is how much he loved us. he gave up his only begotten son for our sake. In his teachings and his life, Jesus shows forth the nature of God-Mercy; healing of the sick, feeding of the hungry and restoring of hope. He reveals the truth of God’s love to us in his teachings, the truth of our sins and guilt of unfaithfulness to God but shows us the unflinching love of God by his death on the cross. Jesus says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemned the world, but to save the world through him” (Jn 3:16-17).
How beautiful. He sent his own son? Yes, for you and for me so that we may be saved from the weaknesses of our will and the bondage of our sins. All we need to do is to have faith in Jesus’ death and open our hearts to him, so he can flood our souls with his mercy. His mercy saves us from condemnation of the wrath of God. Through the mercy of God, he has saved us from his own wrath. Paul says “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
This mercy is what we celebrate even today. The death of Jesus Christ has effect today as it did two thousand years ago because he is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Do you feel weighed down by your sins and weaknesses? Do you feel that you can be no better or do no good? Come to Jesus. you are the reason for his death on the cross. Open up to him. Pope John Paul II says “Divine mercy reached human hearts through the heart of the crucifixion”. Are you ready for a heart-to-heart talk with Jesus? Now is the time.
Pray that the Holy Spirit may help you and strengthen you. Go to a priest have a discussion with him, have your confession, experience and be filled with this mercy of God which is our only peace.
This is why we celebrate the feast of the Divine Mercy. We do not only celebrate what the Lord has done two thousand years ago but also of his mercy upon our lives today. We are not only thankful but also recognise our sins and embrace his mercy in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation which he established by giving the apostles the power to forgive sins. After the resurrection when he appeared to his disciples, he said to them “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And he breathed on them the holy spirit and said “receive the Holy Spirit. if you forgive sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (Jn 20:21-23).
In our first reading of today, we read about the many signs and wonders God did through the apostles. Any kind of torment and affliction which is a result of sin, the mercy of God heals us when we submit everything to him. For any kind of affliction, sickness and burden in our lives may God through his mercy heal us. As you read this piece may God through his mercy make you whole.
“Mercy is in reality the core of the Gospel message; it is the name of God Himself, the face with which He reveals Himself in the Old Testament and fully in Jesus Christ, the Incarnation of creative and redemptive love.” (Pope Benedict XVI)
May God show us his mercy and kindness.
For the sake of his sorrowful passion, May Jesus have mercy on us and the whole world.
God bless you.
BY Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu.
