2nd Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday: JESUS SHOWED THEM HIS WOUNDS.

Today, on the second Sunday of Easter, the church celebrates the Feast of Saint Faustina of Poland, the well-known apostle of Divine Mercy. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, St. Faustina invites us to keep our faith, hope, and love fixed on God. During the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asks each of us to be a sign of forgiveness and healing instruments of the Father’s Mercy, and channels of Christ’s Peace!

In today’s gospel, Jesus showed His mercy to “doubting Thomas.” The Risen Lord appeared to the disciples, but Thomas was not there. When Thomas heard about the resurrection, he refused to believe it. Thomas said: “Unless I feel the nail prints in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” This shows more than his unbelief but Thomas’ courageous faith and an intimate relationship with Jesus. Thomas loved Jesus, and he knew that Jesus loved him; so, he wanted to see and experience Jesus, personally. This is not like the other disciples, who were in fear inside a locked room when they saw Jesus. Thomas was ready to come out of the upper room of fear and confusion, with its safety and security; he was ready to experience Jesus personally and share Jesus’ divine experience with others.

The dynamic faith of St. Thomas the Apostle is a great example for our own lives. We must come to know and experience Jesus personally and intimately. Let us have the courage of our convictions to share our faith, as St. Thomas did. We are not to keep the gift of faith locked within our hearts but to share it with others. Let us remember the words of Saint Pope John II: “Every believer in this world must become a spark of Christ’s light.”

Jesus appeared to His disciples and showed His wounds. When Jesus was on the cross, Jesus’ wounds were signs of failure but now after the resurrection of Jesus’ wounds are signs of victory and signs of hope. By showing His wounds, Jesus wants to teach the disciples that they will be going to face sufferings and crosses, which will lead them to victory. Also, Jesus’ wounds remind us that when we face sufferings, confusions, fear, doubts, and disappointments, we don’t want to run away from these, but there will be victory and new life.

The doubting Thomas in each of us must be touched. We are asked to respond to this wound in others and ourselves. Even in our own weaknesses, we are called to touch the wounds of others, so that their wounds and ours may be healed, and we may overcome our fears.

As a community of believers, we are here in this church with our own perfections and imperfections, beliefs and unbelief, wholeness and brokenness. Thomas — When he put his finger into Christ’s wounds, he personally experienced the Lord’s peace and presence. Let us see the Risen Jesus walking by with His sanctifying wounds. Let us see The Mercy of God incarnate in our own lives and communities. May this Divine Mercy Sunday helps us to know God’s mercy in our lives and let us share this mercy with our brothers and sisters. Jesus is truly Risen…. Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

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