Divine Mercy

The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040818.cfm) reminds me of God’s Divine Mercy, and the need to share it with others. 

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy. We see in the gospel how Jesus demonstrated 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 lived. 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. However, this is not the only thing we should pass. In the second reading, John passed on the hope of Jesus to other people. These things 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 am 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-

Daily Readings

April 8, 2018

Second Sunday of Easter
(Or Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Lectionary: 44

Reading 1ACTS 4:32-35

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,
and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,
but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness
to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
and great favor was accorded them all.
There was no needy person among them,
for those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale,
and put them at the feet of the apostles,
and they were distributed to each according to need.

Responsorial Psalm PS 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R. (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
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 JN 5:1-6

Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.

AlleluiaJN 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
Blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,
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.