MY daily reflection and prayer:
Sunday , April 3, 2016
Second Easter Sunday
The Feast of The Devine Mercy
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
TODAY is the Feast of the Divine Mercy. The gospel today may seem to have a strange focus. We’re in the Easter Season, Jesus Christ is Risen! And joy is everywhere. So why does St John keep emphasizing Christ’s wounds in the gospel we just heard today?
Today’s Gospel tells us, as soon as Jesus walks into the room where the disciples were, he shows them his hands and his side. He shows them the wounds of his crucifixion.
Unfortunately, Thomas, one of the twelve, isn’t there. He returns later, and the others excitedly tell him that they have seen the Lord! But he replies, “I won’t believe it until I see and touch the wounds.”
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Now Thomas does see and touch the wounds, and that leads him to exclaim “My Lord and my God!” With this episode, St. John wants to remind us that God so loved the world that he gave us his only son (see John 3:16). His love and mercy is running out from the wounds of crucifixion.
Jesus has died for us. He has saved us. His wounds are his identity card. They shout out to us that God’s mercy is more powerful than death.
All this is tied in with the special feast we’re celebrating today on Divine Mercy Sunday. Mercy is God’s love meets our brokenness. We all need God’s mercy.
As Jesus Christ told to St. Faustina, the apostle of Divine Mercy, the wounds of Christ, visible for all eternity, are the vivid reminder of God’s mercy. St. Faustina experienced that Christ’s mercy comes to us through his wounds. The mercy of God comes to us through Christ’s wounds. The ocean of mercy comes through Christ’s wounds.
It’s why we pray, “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” We recite this prayer together with St. Faustina.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, we worship Jesus Christ who grant us his mercy through his wounds. May our heart always be full of gratitude and remain close to his loving, merciful touch.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the example of love and mercy you give us through your appearance to the disciples and your kindness to St. Thomas. Lord Jesus Christ, for the sake of your sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world forever and ever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
