{"id":7944,"date":"2022-04-24T11:19:35","date_gmt":"2022-04-24T15:19:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=7944"},"modified":"2022-04-24T11:19:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-24T15:19:35","slug":"divine-mercy-sunday-year-c-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/divine-mercy-sunday-year-c-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"Divine Mercy Sunday, Year C – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd<\/sup> Second of Easter), Year C<\/a>
Acts 5:12-16
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)
Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
John 20:19-31
April 24, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not always easy to follow God.  We see this with the prophets in the Old Testament.  For example, in 1 Kings 19<\/a>, Elijah flees and hides in a cave when Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab tries to have him killed.  God comes to Elijah in his fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now Jesus has been crucified.  His disciples fear the Jews will do the same to them.  So, they are gathered behind locked doors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their fear, \u201cJesus came and stood in their midst.<\/em>\u201d  Why?  Because He knew they were afraid and needed assurance.  He said to them, \u201cPeace with you.<\/em>\u201d  His coming to them was an act of Divine Mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter.  In 2000, Pope John Paul II declared this to always be Divine Mercy Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we think of God\u2019s mercy, we might often think of God\u2019s forgiveness.  God\u2019s forgiveness is a key part of his Divine Mercy.  Thus, Jesus \u201cbreathed on them<\/em>\u201d and said, \u201cReceive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.<\/em>\u201d  Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to his disciples and to priests today so that we may experience his forgiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need God\u2019s forgiveness but his mercy is more than forgiveness.  He comes to his disciples in the locked room in Divine Mercy.  He offers them peace three times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time Jesus came to them in the locked room, Thomas was not there.  When he hears what has happened, Thomas does not believe.  He says he needs to see for himself.  Would we have been any different?  After all, no one had risen from the dead before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus does not reject Thomas for his weak belief.  A week later, Jesus returns.  This time Thomas is there.  Jesus speaks directly to Thomas.  Why?  Because, rooted in his Divine Mercy, Jesus wants Thomas to believe as He said, \u201cdo not be unbelieving but believe.<\/em>\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas\u2019 response?  He says to Jesus, \u201cMy Lord and my God.<\/em>\u201d  Thomas now believes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we believe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At times our faith is weak.  We pray it grows over time.  It doesn\u2019t always happen all at once.  The other disciples had already seen Jesus on the evening of his Resurrection when He came to them in a locked room.  Where are they a week later?  In a locked room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus sends them out just as the Father had sent him.  How does this go for them?  In our reading from Revelation, John says he found himself \u201con the island called Patmos.<\/em>\u201d  Patmos is a Roman penal colony.  John is there because he \u201cproclaimed God\u2019s word and gave testimony to Jesus.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There he had a vision where the Lord says to him, \u201cDo not be afraid.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God had come to Elijah in his fear.  God came to the disciples in the locked room in their fear.  God speaks to John in his difficult moment.  This is God\u2019s Divine Mercy.  \u201cHis mercy endures forever.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God will empower the Apostles to do \u201cmany signs and wonders.<\/em>\u201d  These would have been acts of mercy to those who were ill and possessed.  They are also acts of divine mercy in revealing God\u2019s mercy to the rest of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message of Divine Mercy was offered to Sr. Faustina in Poland in the 1930\u2019s.  There she received the Divine Mercy Image, Chaplet, and novena.  However, the message<\/u><\/em><\/strong> of Divine Mercy was not new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God has always been merciful.  I think of Bible passages like Luke 6:36<\/a> where Jesus says, \u201cBe merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the most direct expression of God\u2019s mercy?  Jesus\u2019 Crucifixion for as Jesus says, \u201cNo one has greater love than this, to lay down one\u2019s life for one\u2019s friends<\/em>\u201d (John 15:13<\/a>).  This is exactly what Jesus does for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Jesus does many acts of mercy.  He feeds the multitudes.  He cares for the sick.  These are the Corporal Works of Mercy that Jesus himself presents to us in Matthew 25:31-46<\/a>.  There are also Spiritual Works of Mercy like instructing the ignorant and admonishing sinners given throughout scripture (See my presentation, The Journey to Jesus, Acts of Mercy<\/em> – http:\/\/www.renewaloffaith.org\/video—the-journey-to-jesus–acts-of-mercy.html<\/a> ). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we are to be merciful like our Father, we need to do acts of mercy.  We are not to do them simply so we can receive mercy ourselves.  We are to do acts of mercy as acts of love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need God\u2019s Divine Mercy.  In his perfect love that endures forever, He is merciful to us.  May we share the mercy we receive with others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Second of Easter), Year CActs 5:12-16Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1) Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19John 20:19-31April 24, 2022 It is not always easy to follow God.  We see this with the prophets in the Old Testament.  For example, in 1 Kings 19, Elijah flees and hides in a cave when Jezebel, the …<\/p>\n

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