SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY - Jn 20:19-31- THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

READING OF THE DAY

First reading from tha Acts of the Apostles

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.

Second reading from the Letter of John

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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to John

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.

SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY - Jn 20:19-31

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

God's Word today talks about the resurrected Jesus appearing to the apostles to strengthen their faith.

God is full of mercy. He sees the weakness and fear of His children when they hear the news of Jesus' death. Therefore, God appeared again to grant more strength and increase the disciples' faith in a risen Jesus Christ. God never abandons mankind. Besides, God also bestows more strength and faith to empower those who believe and follow Jesus Christ's teachings: love for God and love for others.

The life of a Christian following God is to be of one mind in prayer, in love, in unity, and in everything that God gives. God guided and taught the apostles how to live to please God. From the very beginning, God has called all of His children to have to become one with each other, to love together, worship together and revere God alone as the Only One. God is the master of the Earth, the master of all things. He came down to earth to die and resurrect to save humanity. Through His death, He wanted to teach humanity to know: to believe and follow God's instructions; that is to believe in Jesus Christ who died and resurrected. And when we believe, we must follow His words, which is to suffer together, carry the cross, and die with Him so that He can grant us eternal life. For whatever God has promised, He will fulfill it.

God has revealed that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, mankind would enjoy the gift of life; but the resurrection is not easy for humans to believe. For that reason, Jesus appeared to the apostles in the afternoon of the first day of the week. Continuing eight days later, He continued to appear to strengthen the faith of all those who still doubted in the love and mercy of God. God is kind, gentle, and infinitely merciful. So when He appeared in His true self, the apostles could see the mark of the nails and see the pierced mark of His heart in His side. This allowed the apostles to see the infinite mercy of God.

Not only that, but God also teaches everyone in this world a faith that pleases God, which is: "'Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.'" Those whom God has given absolute trust in God's love and mercy should always joyfully give thanks to God and always faithfully follow Him to the end. If we live like that, then that faith will please God. As of today, God continues to accompany humans, and continues to call humanity:

- To repent, return to the immense love and mercy of God,

- To suffer together, carry the cross and follow the Lord to the end, and die with Him to be resurrected with Him in glory.

- Any challenges that God has given to mankind, that is happiness and grace. Embrace that happiness and grace to continue on the path of love that God calls.

In today's world, God continues to strengthen the faith of His disciples who are following Him: that you must pass through trials and sufferings to reach glory. Because of this, God calls everyone: to be faithful, loyal to God until your last breath. When following God and encountering difficulties and challenges, do not give up, because these are the graces that God gives. Because there is nothing more precious than the graces God grants to humanity, and from those graces, it will bring humans to the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today is Sunday of Divine Mercy. God opens a special gift for humanity: run to cry out for God's mercy:

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

- So that everyone will know how to change their lives, take on a holy person of God in ourselves.

- So that in our thoughts, words and actions, we can always show mercy to our brothers and sisters.

- And to know how to practice the two most important commandments, which are: love God above all things and love others as ourselves.

That is the call that God's mercy bestows to humanity. Follow the entire path of love of those two commandments, so that at the end of the path, God will open His arms to welcome everyone to enjoy happiness in the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven, along with Jesus Christ who was crucified, died, was resurrected and sits at the right hand of God.

Thanks be to God. Amen.