The WORD
Today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042317.cfm)
reminds me of God's divine mercy, and the need to share that to
others.
Today we celebrate Divine
Mercy. We see in the gospel Jesus showing this to his disciples when he greeted
them with peace. Peace was the first thing he said to them, even when they
deserted him when he needed friends the most. Mercy, not punishment or lecture.
He gave Peter this peace after denying him three times. He gave Thomas peace
when Thomas doubted him. And because of this peace, because the disciples
experienced this peace, they were able to pass it on to others. It is also a
reminder for us that God's mercy is so great that whatever you do, he will
still forgive you.
Whatever you receive from God
should be passed on to others.
In the first reading, we see
how the disciples lives. They experienced God's mercy as we see in the gospel,
and they were able to pass it on to others. Mercy towards each other. They
shared whatever they have to others. They lived as one community. In the second
reading, Peter passed on exhortation to people who are experiencing trials in
life. They made God more alive in the world.
God is merciful, but we also
have to do our part. We
also have to share him to others.
We also have to allow God to use us to extend his love and mercy to others. To
do this, we should build and strengthen our
faith and relationship with him.
God
should not be confined on Sunday masses. That’s just not enough for us to
experience his great love. That’s not enough to experience his mercy. With the
technology that we have, there are a lot of ways to grow spiritually. Internet
research to know him more. Social media to proclaim him. Communication
technology to talk about him with others. We need nourishment, and we need to
work on it. Of course, prayers, reading the bible, the sacraments help us a lot
in building our faith and relationship with him.
May we always be reminded of
God's love and mercy, and be inspired to work on our faith and relationship
with him so we can be ready to proclaim him and share his mercy to others.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your love. Thank you
for your mercy. Thank you for the many ways you reach out to us and remind us
of your love and your mercy. Sorry for the times I ignore it. Sorry for the
times I sm too lazy to act and work on my relationship with you. Sorry for
being lazy to share you to others. Lord, I ask that you Help me know you more.
Help me experience you more. Fill me with your love and mercy so it will be
easy and natural for me to share you to others. Make me a living testament of
your love and mercy. Make me more loving and more merciful to others. Use me as
you used Peter to proclaim you and share you to others. May you be glorified.
Amen.
Blessed
Sunday!
In
Christ,
-g-
April 23, 2017
Lectionary: 43
Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Reading 1 Acts 2:42-47
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone,
and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their property and possessions
and divide them among all according to each one's need.
Every day they devoted themselves
to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His mercy endures forever."
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Reading 2 1 Pt 1:3-9
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Alleluia Jn 20:29
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Jn 20:19-31
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained."
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
But he said to them,
"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
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