Readings: Acts 5:12-16, Ps. 118:2-4,22-27, Rev. 1:9-13,17-19, John 20:19-31
“Jesus said to them, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he said this, he breathed on them, saying, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:21-23)
Today is called Divine Mercy Sunday. This is because, on this day, exactly one week after Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He displayed the magnanimity of His Divine Mercy not just to the disciples but to the whole world. Today, we will examine the concept of Divine mercy by exploring its various dimensions as presented in our readings.
1. Divine Mercy is expressed in Peace.
John tells us that the disciples were locked up in a room for fear of the Jews. Even though they were told that Jesus had risen from the dead, they were still afraid because they did not believe. In Mark’s gospel, we are told that Jesus “upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart” (Mark 16:14). When we are afraid of people, it is a sign that we do not trust God. The disciples shut the door against themselves, hoping the wooden bars and locks would keep them safe, forgetting that these would have easily been broken in an attack.
Fear is often the result of panic. The disciples were afraid because they were still trying to fully comprehend what had just happened; they had not yet recovered from the utter shock of seeing Jesus treated like a criminal and crucified. At the bottom of their fear was a lack of inner peace. Jesus did not knock on the door but entered their midst first to show them the futility of trusting in human devices for protection and, secondly, to show them Divine mercy by calming their minds.
Hence, Jesus first tells them, “Peace be with you.” Only when there is peace in our hearts can we see the hand of God at work in our lives, despite our external circumstances. Without peace, our minds are not at rest, we suddenly forget what God can do, and we panic. We act without reason and faith, like the disciples did when they faced a storm at sea while Jesus slept peacefully on the cushion. Child of God, each time you feel restless or cannot understand what is happening around you, learn to say this short prayer: “Jesus, I trust in you.” Keep saying it until you become calm, then your eyes will be open to see Jesus with you.
2. Divine Mercy is expressed in God’s Forgiveness.
Immediately after calming the disciples’ minds, Jesus created the sacrament of forgiveness. Not only was Jesus absolving the disciples of their faults, but He also made them ministers of God’s forgiveness by empowering them to either forgive or retain the sins of others. This again is another concrete expression of Divine Mercy. If you have ever attended the sacrament of penance with the faith that you are not just talking to your fellow human being but one to whom God has given the power to forgive sins, you will discover how light you feel afterwards.
When we go for confession, God forgives our sins and washes us so that we can confidently say we become new creatures. God does not remember our sins because the moment we offload them at the confessional, our old self dies, and we leave as newborn babies. Just as you cannot accuse an infant of sin, God no longer accuses us of the sins that we have dropped at the confessional. Never be too shy to go to confession; it is not the priest who forgives us, but Jesus Christ who gave the priest the power to retain or absolve sins in His name.
Jesus again concretely expressed Divine Mercy by forgiving Thomas, who demanded evidence to prove that Jesus was truly alive. After making Thomas touch His hands and feet and feel his side that was pierced with a lance, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29). I think this statement perfectly applies to all those Christians who are never tired of asking questions like: “Where is so and so in the Bible? Show me, where is it written?”
Thomas was told that Jesus came, but he asked, “Where is it in the Bible?” He was asking for evidence. Jesus says to us today: “Blessed are those who have not seen where it is stated in the Bible and yet believe.” If you decide to limit your faith only to what you see in the bible, I wonder if you have faith at all. I wonder how you can believe that a God for whom nothing is impossible would confine Himself to the bible alone. Even the Bible acknowledges its limitations by stating that not everything Jesus did is recorded. (John 20:31 & John 21:25).
3. Divine Mercy is expressed in Healing.
In today’s first reading, we see how God worked great signs and wonders through the ministry of the apostles. It got to the extent that they carried the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and pallets, so that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The final verse of today’s first reading states: “The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:16). Take note, it says: “they were all healed” meaning no one was left out.
Miracles are still happening today. God is still very much at work among us. Just as the Bible does not contain everything we need to know about God, miracles and inspiration did not stop with the Bible. However, when God is at work, it is never for the minister's glorification, but for God’s own glory. Let us avoid worshipping the minister. Every miraculous healing is God's way of showing His Divine Mercy.
4. Divine mercy is expressed in Revelation.
In today’s second reading, John describes his experience, or rather, his encounter with God on the island of Patmos. He tells us that he found himself there because of the tribulation and persecution the Christian community faced. In fact, if we want to understand the book of Revelation, we must bear in mind that this whole book was addressed to the Christians who were suffering the heat of severe persecution. This is why John employs highly coded language to convey his message. John’s purpose was to give consolation to the Christians and assure them of a better life.
One way God shows us mercy is by revealing certain things to us that we would never have been able to figure out on our own. The truth is that the more we draw close to God, the more we hear God speaking. As God spoke to John on the island of Patmos, God speaks to us in moments when we are afraid, depressed, confused, and troubled. Instead of seeking quick fixes for our problems, let us cultivate the practice of listening to God. Spend time each day meditating on God’s word, and your life will never be the same again.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, open our eyes to see your mercy at work every day. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter) Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: Acts 5:12-16, Ps. 118:2-4,22-27, Rev. 1:9-13,17-19, John 20:19-31).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu