Acts 2:42-47; 1 Pet 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31
The story is told that at the final judgment, all priests were gathered outside the gates of heaven. There was much anticipation and tension. Then, the archangel of the FBI announced, “All those who did not violate the 1st Commandment, take one step forward!” Almost all of the priests move a step closer to the gate.
Then, the archangel said, “All those who did not violate the 2nd Commandment, take one step forward!” Still there were many who move a step closer.
As they moved to the next of the commandments, the number of priests moving forward was gradually diminishing. And there was a great feeling of anxiety.
And then, the archangel said, “Those who did not violate the 6th Commandment, one step forward!” Suddenly, there was stillness! Nobody was moving. Not until a very old pastor got his strength to take one step forward.
Realizing the predicament that only one of his priests would make it to the gate, God made a bold announcement: “Because of this faithful and holy old pastor, I pronounced a General Amnesty!” And there was great rejoicing in heaven.
While the great party moved on, the old priest was seen downhearted at the side. “What happened to you?” an angel asked him. “Are you not celebrating with the others?”
And the old priest shook his head, “If I only knew that there would be an amnesty.”
(The story is from an unknown author)
The second Sunday of Easter is also called Divine Mercy Sunday. In a decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship, dated May 23, 2000, Pope John Paul II declared that “throughout the world, the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday”. This, he said, would be “a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that humankind will experience in the years to come”. We are, therefore, called to live life with full trust in the goodness and boundless mercy of God.
God’s mercy is the main theme of today’s Scriptural readings. In the gospel the Risen Christ appeared to the disciples and said, “Peace be with you!” The disciples run away during the passion and death of the Lord. When Jesus needed them most, they were not around. Yes, even Peter, who promised to stay with him until death, deserted him. The disciples deserved a reprimand, and yet, the Risen Christ came back to them and brought them peace. Instead of condemnation, the disciples received peace and forgiveness. Through this, the Risen Christ showed that God is full of mercy, slow to anger, and is not vindictive.
In the second reading, Peter calls all to give praise to the Heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his children, privileged heirs of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is every disciple’s treasure, one that can neither be spoiled nor taken away. Likewise, the psalmist invites us to sing “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting”.
What does the day of Divine Mercy inspire us to do?
First of all, we are called to come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. We all need forgiveness and salvation because each one of us is a sinner. The gospel narrates how the Risen Christ breathed on the apostles and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”. The Risen Christ left to the Church the power to forgive because he knows that people often need pardon and mercy.
And secondly, we are invited to remain grateful to God for his boundless mercy by following more closely the footsteps of His Son. The Lord Jesus remained obedient and faithful because he experienced personally the greatness of his Father’s love. This is what the Christian life is all about: to experience the love of God and to respond appropriately. The first reading narrates how the first disciples of Jesus responded concretely to God’s love – they lived as brothers and sisters, they prayed together, broke bread, helped one another and shared what they have for the good of all.
A widow confided with a priest about the destiny of her husband who committed suicide a year ago.
“Father, would God grant my husband forgiveness and receive him in His kingdom?” she asked.
“If you are to decide, would you like your husband to be in heaven in spite of what he did?” the priest gently inquired.
“Yes, I will grant him mercy and forgiveness,” the widow replied.
And the priest said to the widow, “Actually, your merciful heart is only a tiny reflection of the forgiving heart of God.”
The story is told that at the final judgment, all priests were gathered outside the gates of heaven. There was much anticipation and tension. Then, the archangel of the FBI announced, “All those who did not violate the 1st Commandment, take one step forward!” Almost all of the priests move a step closer to the gate.
Then, the archangel said, “All those who did not violate the 2nd Commandment, take one step forward!” Still there were many who move a step closer.
As they moved to the next of the commandments, the number of priests moving forward was gradually diminishing. And there was a great feeling of anxiety.
And then, the archangel said, “Those who did not violate the 6th Commandment, one step forward!” Suddenly, there was stillness! Nobody was moving. Not until a very old pastor got his strength to take one step forward.
Realizing the predicament that only one of his priests would make it to the gate, God made a bold announcement: “Because of this faithful and holy old pastor, I pronounced a General Amnesty!” And there was great rejoicing in heaven.
While the great party moved on, the old priest was seen downhearted at the side. “What happened to you?” an angel asked him. “Are you not celebrating with the others?”
And the old priest shook his head, “If I only knew that there would be an amnesty.”
(The story is from an unknown author)
The second Sunday of Easter is also called Divine Mercy Sunday. In a decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship, dated May 23, 2000, Pope John Paul II declared that “throughout the world, the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday”. This, he said, would be “a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that humankind will experience in the years to come”. We are, therefore, called to live life with full trust in the goodness and boundless mercy of God.
God’s mercy is the main theme of today’s Scriptural readings. In the gospel the Risen Christ appeared to the disciples and said, “Peace be with you!” The disciples run away during the passion and death of the Lord. When Jesus needed them most, they were not around. Yes, even Peter, who promised to stay with him until death, deserted him. The disciples deserved a reprimand, and yet, the Risen Christ came back to them and brought them peace. Instead of condemnation, the disciples received peace and forgiveness. Through this, the Risen Christ showed that God is full of mercy, slow to anger, and is not vindictive.
In the second reading, Peter calls all to give praise to the Heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his children, privileged heirs of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom is every disciple’s treasure, one that can neither be spoiled nor taken away. Likewise, the psalmist invites us to sing “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting”.
What does the day of Divine Mercy inspire us to do?
First of all, we are called to come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly. We all need forgiveness and salvation because each one of us is a sinner. The gospel narrates how the Risen Christ breathed on the apostles and said to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained”. The Risen Christ left to the Church the power to forgive because he knows that people often need pardon and mercy.
And secondly, we are invited to remain grateful to God for his boundless mercy by following more closely the footsteps of His Son. The Lord Jesus remained obedient and faithful because he experienced personally the greatness of his Father’s love. This is what the Christian life is all about: to experience the love of God and to respond appropriately. The first reading narrates how the first disciples of Jesus responded concretely to God’s love – they lived as brothers and sisters, they prayed together, broke bread, helped one another and shared what they have for the good of all.
A widow confided with a priest about the destiny of her husband who committed suicide a year ago.
“Father, would God grant my husband forgiveness and receive him in His kingdom?” she asked.
“If you are to decide, would you like your husband to be in heaven in spite of what he did?” the priest gently inquired.
“Yes, I will grant him mercy and forgiveness,” the widow replied.
And the priest said to the widow, “Actually, your merciful heart is only a tiny reflection of the forgiving heart of God.”
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