Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday
In the gospel this weekend we read about how Jesus appears to the apostles in the upper room on the evening of the resurrection. In this gospel, one on the apostles, Thomas, was not there when Jesus appeared. Thomas was expected to believe without seeing, based on the testimony of the other apostles. Thomas reacted, by demanding to see and touch the wounds of Christ before he would believe.
A week later when Jesus returns, He doesn’t admonish Thomas but offers his hands and his side to his disciple to touch. Jesus responds to Thomas with mercy, inviting him into an encounter in a way that will draw him into deeper faith. In the same way, Jesus also comes to us, mercifully inviting us into relationship with him regardless of what we demand or how often we fall away.
God extends mercy to us as an undeserved gift. But we must be humble and seek repentance, particularly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It can be hard to receive mercy. In receiving mercy, we must first admit that we need mercy and then realize that we are not capable of healing ourselves. Actively receiving mercy involves trusting in God’s goodness, forgiving others, and surrendering to His will.
Jesus asks us to accept mercty ourselves and to be merciful with others. Being merciful to others is just as hard as accepting mercy. We must look beyond what others do and respond to them with love seeing their true dignity and worth.
The Church reminds us of how to care for both the physical and spiritual needs of others in the Corporal and the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Corporal Works of Mercy
- Feed the hungry: donate to a food shelf: have dinner with a friend or a shut-in.
- Give drink to the thirsty:
Give your time to the lonely (those thirsting for human contact).
Volunteer as a catechist (Help those thirsting for God)
- Cloth the naked: donate some of your clothing.
- Shelter the homeless: donate to a shelter or to a homeless person.
- Visit the sick: visit those in a nursing home, parish shut-ins (home bound), relatives or friends.
- Visit the imprisoned:
Become a prison pen pal (send a card). Visit those trapped in the cycle of poverty. Visit those with chronic problems (debt, mental health, marital).
- Bury the dead: attend a vigil, wake or funeral, send a sympathy card, or maintain a cemetery.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
- Instruct the ignorant: read and study the bible, volunteer as a catechist.
- Counsel the doubtful: read the catechism and study the faith.
- Admonish sinners:
Support life (pro-life).
Support marriage.
Live chastely (no pornography, TV violence).
- Bear wrongs patiently: be more tolerant, pray for patience.
- Forgive offences willingly: let go of grudges and hurts, go to confession.
- Comfort the afflicted: be sympathetic, practice listening, send cards, visit sick and elderly.
- Pray for the living and the dead.
Practice daily acts of mercy. Smile and speak kindly or offer a kind word to someone, even if they are unkind to you, and pray for them. Practice self-mercy by accepting your own flaws and relying on God’s mercy, which helps prevent being judgmental of others.
As we celebrate this Sunday of Divine Mercy, give thanks to God for the gift of His infinite mercy and show gratitude to God by extending this mercy to others.
Deacon Michael Braun