2nd Sunday of Easter

Sunday Reflection - Divine Mercy Sunday
Today’s Gospel highlights God’s mercy and love for us which are the themes of divine mercy. The Gospel also reminds us just how anything but ordinary the resurrection really is. In the gospel we meet the disciples hiding from the authorities, afraid of what might happen to them. So when Jesus first appears his words to them are words of encouragement, but then of mission. He says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me so am I sending you”.

To enable this to happen, Jesus makes real the promise he had made earlier, that the Holy Spirit will come upon them. He says “receive the Holy Spirit.” Then in this wonderful gift he tells them that they are to become instruments of his mercy and forgiveness. He says “those who sins you forgive are forgiven those whose sins you retain they are retained”. I have sometimes pondered about this. Would they have understood that these words would be words of comfort to others in future times? Whatever their immediate understanding we know that they were filled with joy.

When Thomas re-joins them in the upper room, he listens to this incredible story of the risen Jesus, but we know that he wasn't that easily convinced. He had to see for himself what would happen. He would have to touch Jesus to know what they were saying was true. The next stage of the gospel tells us that Thomas is there the following week when Jesus reappears and, before he accepts Jesus invitation to touch his hands and his side, he acknowledges Jesus with those wonderful words of faith. My Lord and my God. Today we are being reminded of God's incredible love and mercy for each one of us, something that we know is anything but ordinary.

As we continue in this Easter season, let's continue asking for the grace of a stronger faith, but also to be drawn by the invitation of Jesus to enter into his wounds. In touching his wounds, we allow him to touch our wounds and to bring us healing. My prayer for us this week is that like Thomas, we too will be able to ponder on this wonderful mystery that we too will be able to proclaim my Lord and my God and that our lives will then truly reflect God's mercy and love to all we meet.