First Reading - Acts 5:12-16
Second Reading - Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19
Gospel - John 20:19-31
We all long for second chances—for someone to believe in us even when we’ve failed, to embrace us not because we’re perfect but because we are loved. Today, on Divine Mercy Sunday, we celebrate that kind of love: God’s mercy that transforms, restores, and renews.
Mercy is not just a soft feeling; it is God's powerful response to our deepest wounds. The readings of today are a testimony to what happens when mercy touches the human heart.
In the Gospel, we meet the disciples hiding behind locked doors. They are confused, afraid, and full of shame. But Jesus walks into that room of fear and failure and speaks peace. He shows His wounds, not as a reminder of pain, but as proof of love. Then, in an incredible act of trust, He breathes the Holy Spirit on them, entrusting them with the power to forgive. This is the heart of Divine Mercy: God does not abandon us in our brokenness—He comes to meet us there.
Thomas struggles to believe. He wants tangible proof, not empty words. And Jesus meets him where he is. He returns a week later, just for Thomas. No scolding, no rejection—just mercy. And in that encounter, Thomas moves from doubt to one of the most profound confessions of faith: “My Lord and my God.”
In the First Reading, we see the powerful effect of this mercy. The same apostles who were once paralyzed by fear are now out in the streets, healing the sick, proclaiming Jesus, and drawing crowds. Their transformation is not self-made—it is mercy-received and mercy-shared.
In the Second Reading, John gives us a vision of the Risen Christ—glorious and eternal, yet still bearing the wounds of the cross. He says, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I was dead and now I live forever.” This is our hope: mercy is not just a moment; it is a Person who lives forever and holds us in love.
Dear friends, these readings invite us to open our lives to the transforming power of Divine Mercy. And they give us some practical insights for our journey:
- Let Jesus enter your locked rooms. Like the disciples, we all have areas in our lives where we hide—from guilt, shame, or fear. Invite Jesus into those places. His mercy brings peace, not judgment.
- Don't be afraid of your doubts. Like Thomas, bring them to Jesus. Mercy means God is patient with us. When we seek sincerely, He will lead us from doubt to deeper faith.
- Be a channel of healing. The apostles went out to heal others after receiving mercy. Is there someone you need to forgive? Someone who needs your time or compassion? Mercy is not something we keep—it’s something we pass on.
- Keep your eyes on the Risen Christ. Like John in the second reading, look beyond your present struggles. Remember, Christ is alive and holds the keys of life and death. His mercy is greater than your past, your pain, or your weakness.
- Trust in Jesus daily. In confusion, in suffering, in joy—let the prayer of Divine Mercy become your own: “Jesus, I trust in You.”
Mercy doesn't erase our wounds—it transforms them into a testimony of love. Let us live as people who have encountered the Risen Lord—not just once, but every day—in His mercy. And let us carry that mercy into the world.
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