II Sunday of Easter 27 April 2025 – Divine Mercy
Sunday
Mass Readings: Act 5:12-16 Ps 118 Rev 1:9-11.12-13.17-19 Jn 20:19-31
Key Verse to Meditate: Thomas answered
him, "My Lord and my God!"(Jn 20 :28).
Today, we celebrate the Eighth
Day of the Easter Octave, traditionally known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
This special day was instituted in response to the revelations of Jesus to St.
Faustina Kowalska, where the Lord promised that those who approach the
Eucharist and make a good confession would receive an outpouring of divine
mercy and forgiveness. The mercy of God, dear friends, is unfathomable. It
cannot be grasped by human understanding, but it can be received in humble
faith. Jesus invites everyone—without exception—to encounter His mercy and to
experience it anew each day.
The
Gospel Reading – Encounter with the Risen Christ
Today’s Gospel presents the
powerful encounter between the Risen Lord and the Apostle Thomas. St.
John, at the conclusion of the passage, offers a profound purpose for his
writing:
"Now Jesus did many
other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this
book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name" (Jn
20:30–31).
This is not just a
historical account, but a testimony meant to stir our faith—so that we
too may believe, and by believing, have life in His name.
The
Second Reading – A Vision of the Risen One
In the second reading from
the Book of Revelation, St. John shares a vision of the Risen Christ.
The Lord appears in glory and reassures him:
"Fear not, I am the
First and the Last, and the Living One. I died, and behold I am alive
forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades" (Rev
1:17–18).
Christ, the Eternal One,
now risen, instructs John to write what he sees—thus becoming a messenger of
hope to the early Christian communities. The encounter with the Risen Lord
becomes a commissioning moment, just as it does in today’s Gospel.
The First
Reading – The Power of the Resurrection in the Early Church
The first reading from the Acts
of the Apostles shows the tangible effects of the Resurrection in the life
of the early Church. The apostles, now emboldened by the presence of the Risen
Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, work many signs and wonders. Even
Peter’s shadow is enough to heal the sick (Acts 5:15–16). The community
thrives, not because of human efforts, but because the Risen Lord is alive
and working in their midst.
The Five Gifts of the Risen Lord
In today’s Gospel (John
20:19–31), we can identify five gifts that the Risen Jesus offers to His
disciples—gifts which are also bestowed upon us as His followers today.
1. The Gift of Peace
The first words of the
Risen Christ to the apostles are: "Peace be with you." This
greeting, repeated three times (vv.19, 21, 26), is more than a simple
salutation. It is a profound gift of inner healing. The disciples were gripped
by fear, hiding from the Jews, wounded by guilt and confusion. But Christ’s
peace—Shalom—restores them. It is a peace that the world cannot give, a
peace rooted in the victory of the Cross and the Resurrection.
Peace is the first fruit of
Divine Mercy—it reassures, heals, and restores the human heart.
2. The Gift of Mission
Immediately after offering
peace, Jesus gives the apostles a mission:
"As the Father has
sent me, so I send you." (v.21)
Discipleship always leads
to apostleship. We are not only called to believe, but to go forth and
proclaim. The experience of the Risen Christ is not meant to be kept to
oneself—it must be shared. We become missionaries of mercy, sent to
testify to the love of Christ crucified and risen.
3. The Gift of the Holy
Spirit
Jesus then breathes on them
and says:
"Receive the Holy
Spirit." (v.22)
This is a symbolic new
creation—just as God breathed life into Adam, Christ breathes divine life
into the apostles. The Holy Spirit equips and empowers the Church to become
bold witnesses of the Resurrection. This breath anticipates the full
outpouring at Pentecost, and reminds us that without the Spirit, our faith
becomes lifeless.
4. The Gift of Forgiveness
With the gift of the Spirit
comes the ministry of reconciliation:
"If you forgive the
sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are
retained." (v.23)
This verse is the
scriptural foundation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On Divine
Mercy Sunday, we are especially reminded that God’s mercy flows through the
Church, and that the authority to forgive sins is not merely symbolic—it is
real. The confessional becomes the throne of grace, where sinners are reborn in
the love of God.
5. The Gift of Joy
Finally, we are told that:
"The disciples
rejoiced when they saw the Lord." (v.20)
Joy is the unmistakable
mark of a true Christian. The Resurrection turns sorrow into joy, despair into
hope. This joy is not temporary; it is the deep assurance that death has
been conquered and that Jesus is alive. A joyful heart is a powerful
witness to the Gospel.
The
Journey of Thomas – From Doubt to Faith
The final part of the
Gospel highlights St. Thomas, often called “Doubting Thomas.” Yet, in
truth, the other apostles had also doubted—they too needed to see the Risen
Lord to believe. Thomas, in his honesty, demands a personal encounter: "Unless
I see... I will not believe." (Jn 20:25)
Jesus does not rebuke
Thomas but meets him where he is. He offers His wounds—not as a proof of
defeat, but as a testament of love. Upon seeing Jesus, Thomas proclaims one of
the most profound confessions in all of Scripture:
"My Lord and my
God!" (Jn 20:28)
This short phrase is both
an act of faith and worship. It becomes a model prayer for all of us who long
to believe more deeply. Thomas’ journey reminds us that God welcomes our
doubts—if they lead us to seek Him. And Christ offers a beatitude for all
generations:
"Blessed are those who
have not seen and yet believe." (Jn 20:29)
Points for Personal
Reflections
Dear friends, Divine Mercy
Sunday invites us to reflect on the infinite mercy of God made visible in the
Risen Christ. Let us open our hearts to the five gifts of the
Resurrection: Peace, Mission, the Holy Spirit, Forgiveness, and Joy. Let us
echo Thomas’s great act of faith—"My Lord and my God!"—and
live with the joy and courage of those who have encountered the Risen One.
May we be apostles of mercy
in a world that is often wounded, fearful, and lost. Let us bring Christ’s
peace to others through our faith, our witness, and our love.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Amen.
