Divine Mercy

The WORD today reminds me of God's divine mercy, and the need to share that to others.

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. We saw in the gospel how Jesus shared 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 support the most. Peace and 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 saw how the disciples lived. Peter was bold in proclaiming Jesus. And we see Jesus’ power through him. His mere presence healed a lot of people. He shared God’s power, love, and mercy. The people shared what they had with each other. In the second reading, John passed on exhortation to people who are experiencing trials in life. They made God more alive in the world. They proclaimed God. 

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. This is the best way to thank him and show him our gratitude for his love and mercy. We should pay it forward. 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.

Today, more than ever, we should proclaim God even louder. The crisis situation of covid19 brings a lot of negativity and fear to people. However, just like in the second reading, we should be a beacon of light, of love, and of positivity ni matter how dark the situation may be. We should make God’s love and God’s divine mercy more alive by sharing our blessings with others. Instead of simply complaining, let us do something concrete, no  matter how small, to make it a better situation. This would show God’s love and mercy is well and alive in this world.

Do I share God’s love and mercy to others? Do I proclaim him? In what way? Do I build and strengthen my relationship with him? How can I share him to others? How can I proclaim and magnify God especially with the covid 19 pandemic? 

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 another Sunday. 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 and John to proclaim you and share you to others. Use me, especially now, to make your mercy more real and more alive in this word. . May you be glorified always. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,

-g-

April 11, 2021

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy); St. Stanislaus

---

FIRST READING

Acts 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

Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24 (1)

R. 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.

---

SECOND READING

1 John 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.

---

ALLELUIA

John 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

John 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.