SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY - Gospel (Jn 20:19-31) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (Jn 20:29)

FIRST READING - Acts 5:12-16

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

Many signs and wonders were done among the people

at the hands of the apostles.

They were all together in Solomon’s portico.

None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them.

Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord,

great numbers of men and women, were added to them.

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets

and laid them on cots and mats

so that when Peter came by,

at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.

A large number of people from the towns

in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered,

bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits,

and they were all cured.

SECOND READING from the Book of Revelation - Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

I, John, your brother, who share with you

the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus,

found myself on the island called Patmos

because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus.

I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day

and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said,

“Write on a scroll what you see.”

Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me,

and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands

and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,

wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.

He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.

I am the first and the last, the one who lives.

Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.

I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.

Write down, therefore, what you have seen,

and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 20:19-31

From the Gospel according to John

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.

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY - Gospel (Jn 20:19-31)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God today speaks about the resurrected Jesus appearing to the apostles to strengthen their faith.

God is rich in mercy. He sees the weakness and fear in the hearts of humanity when they hear the news of Jesus' death. Therefore, the Lord appears again to give them strength and to fortify the disciples’ faith in the resurrected Jesus Christ. God not only never abandons His people, but He also continues to strengthen and increase the faith of all who believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ—especially those who love God and love others.

The life of a Christian is a life of unity: to be of one mind and one heart in prayer, in love, and in harmony with everything that God gives. God guided and taught the apostles how to live in a way that pleases Him. From the very beginning, God called all His children to become one—to love one another, to worship together, and to honor God alone as the Only Lord of all. He is the Master of the earth and of all creation. He came to earth, died, and rose again to save all of humanity. Through His death, He teaches us to believe and follow God’s teachings—that is, to believe in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. And when we believe, we are called to follow Him: to suffer with Him, to carry the cross with Him, and to die with Him—so that we may also rise with Him and receive eternal life. For what God has promised, He will surely fulfill.

God revealed that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, humanity would receive the gift of eternal life. But the resurrection was not easy for many to believe. That is why Jesus appeared to the apostles on the evening of the first day of the week. Eight days later, He appeared again to strengthen the faith of those who still doubted His love and mercy. God is kind, gentle, and infinitely merciful. When He appeared in His glorified body, the apostles saw the nail marks and the wound from the spear that had pierced His side. These signs allowed them to feel the depth of God’s love and mercy. Moreover, God taught the world about the kind of faith that pleases Him: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

Those who have been granted absolute trust in the love and mercy of God should always joyfully thank God and always faithfully follow Him to the end. Only by living with such faith can we truly please God.

Even today, God continues to accompany us and calls us:

• To repent and return to His immense love and mercy.

• To suffer with Him, carry the cross with Him, and follow Him to the end, dying with Him so we may rise gloriously with Him.

• To recognize that the challenges and trials He allows are, in fact, gifts and graces, meant to help us grow in the love and holiness that God calls us to.

In today’s world, God continues to strengthen the faith of His disciples by reminding us: we must go through trials and suffering to reach glory. Therefore, God invites us to remain faithful and loyal to Him until our last breath. When we follow God and face difficulties, we must not turn back, because those trials are graces in disguise. And there is nothing more precious than the graces God gives us—for from those graces flow the joy and fulfillment of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today is the Sunday of Divine Mercy. On this special day, God opens up the floodgates of grace to all humanity. He invites us to cry out for His mercy:

• Let Him touch the heart and soul of each person.

• Let lives be transformed, clothed in holiness and grace.

• Let thoughts, words, and actions reflect His mercy toward others.

• Let us live out the two greatest commandments: to love God above all things, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

This is the invitation of God's Divine Mercy to all humanity. Let us walk the path of love, rooted in these two commandments. Then, at the end of that path, God will open His arms to welcome us into the eternal joy and glory of the Kingdom of Heaven—together with Jesus Christ, who was crucified, died, rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God.

Thanks be to God. Amen.