Divine Mercy Sunday 2021

Hello My Dear Reader,

On this second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, I was struck by the Gospel reading from Mass this morning as to how perfectly it fits into the them of God’s Divine Mercy. There are two lessons that I think can be learned from the Gospel reading today (John 20: 19-31).

To briefly summarize the setting of this story with which we are probably all familiar, the events of this passage take place when Jesus appears to the Apostles who are in the Upper Room with the door locked, afraid for their lives after having witnessed Jesus’ suffering and persecution several days beforehand.

The first lesson is one that is popular with many priests and which is taken from verses 24 – 31 where the Apostle Thomas doubts the appearance of Jesus (since he wasn’t there during His initial appearance) and the Lord appears to the Apostles again later so that Thomas may put his fingers into Christ’s wounds and thus believe. This is, of course, where we get the old saying of calling someone a “doubting Thomas”.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.

St. Augustine

Are we not all like Thomas in some form or fashion at one time or another? We all have doubts and our faith is not always perfect. We can’t help it. Being surrounded by the world’s skepticism and, at times, I daresay aggression towards God, it is hard not to let our faith slip just as St. Thomas did in the Upper Room. I know in my own case that I have felt my faith waiver on more than one occasion throughout my life.

However, as Christians we MUST hold onto that faith. We must hold onto what the Church tells us through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The Catechism of The Catholic Church states:

“By the saving word of God, faith . . . is nourished in the hearts of believers. By this faith then the congregation of the faithful begins and grows.”21 The proclamation does not stop with a teaching; it elicits the response of faith as consent and commitment, directed at the covenant between God and his people. Once again it is the Holy Spirit who gives the grace of faith, strengthens it and makes it grow in the community. The liturgical assembly is first of all a communion in faith. (CCC 1102)

This is why The Church (and attending Mass) is so important for us as Christians.

Another lesson I received from the Gospel this morning is in the earlier passages of the reading, verses 19 – 23. These verses describe the actual first appearance of Christ to the Apostles in the Upper Room but, more importantly this is where Jesus breathes on them and says:

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you…. Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

This my dear reader is Christ’s establishment of the Sacrament of Reconciliation for His Church. He gives His Apostles His very power to forgive sins in His name and which has been passed on through the laying on of hands to this very day within His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church… What better verse to hear and reflect on during this Divine Mercy Sunday since this is the channel through which our Lord gave us to receive His endless supply of mercy! We just have to accept this gift through faith and approach this sacrament with humility…

I beg of you… If you haven’t been to confession in the last week… Go!

If you haven’t been to confession in several months… Go!

If you haven’t been to confession in years… Please Go!

Experience God’s love in the form of mercy for not only your soul, but for the souls of your family…

“Jesus: ‘My child, life on earth is a struggle indeed; a great struggle for my kingdom.  But fear not, because you are not alone.  I am always supporting you, so lean on Me as you struggle, fearing nothing.  Take the vessel of trust and draw from the fountain of life – for yourself, but also for other souls, especially such as are distrustful of My goodness.’” (No. 1488)

The Diary of St. Faustina

Your Humble Servant in Christ,

William