Second Sunday of Easter - Cycle C
Divine Mercy Sunday
April 10/11, 2010

Jesus Christ has risen! Praised be the name of the Lord!

What greater evidence is there of God's infinite mercy than this:  that Jesus Christ died for our sins and has risen from the dead so that we may have life, and have it to the full!

Today we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  This feast was first proclaimed by Pope John Paul II ten years ago today, when he said that the Second Sunday of Easter would be Divine Mercy Sunday.  So today, we reflect on God's infinite mercy.

A Divine Mercy that flows from The Heart of  Jesus.

A Heart that heals, forgives, strengthens us in faith, and gives us peace.

In our first reading today, we hear how the Apostles attracted the sick; how they cured them of "unclean spirits". The power of our resurrected Lord flowed through them:  The DIvine Mercy of God heals the sick.

In our Gospel, Jesus gives the Apostles the power to forgive sins.  He instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He breathed on them, the power of the Holy Spirit was given to them:  The Divine Mercy of God forgives sins.

We also hear in the Gospel that Thomas was in doubt.  He hadn't seen the Lord.  He didn't believe, but his eyes were opened, and he made that splendid profession, "My Lord and my God";  The Divine Mercy of God strengthens our faith.

Jesus came through locked doors and through the wall of fear.  He brought peace: "Peace by with you!" And the disciples rejoiced: The Divine Mercy of God instills peace and joy.

Our world today stands in need of God's Divine Mercy. It stands in need of healing, forgiveness, faith and peace.  For what does the world say to us if we listen?  The world would have us believe:

"The sick are numerous, and growing in numbers. We are no longer free to treat them all. There isn't the political and economic will to do so.  There are too many of them and we cannot afford to treat them all."

Yes, the world would say: "The willingness to forgive is weakened with each new act of terrorism and war. To forgive is a sign of weakness. The response to terrorism is war."

The world says: "The Christian faith is antiquated, corrupt, unworthy of trust. It is best discarded in favor of Eastern philosophies or the New Age religions.  Worship the created world. Worship the sun and the moon, the wind and the earth."

Our world would say: "The characteristic joy and peace of Christianity is naive. The only rational response to reality is fear, seriousness, cynicism and a dour mood."

Yes, these are the messages prevalent in today's world. These were the same messages of the society in which the Apostles found themselves after Jesus' death. These were the same struggles they faced. 

What can we do? First, we must prayerfully approach the Merciful Heart of Jesus.  This is not difficult -- it takes only five minutes a day.  We must approach him close enough, just like the Apostles

"to be breathed on"
"to touch his hands and his side"
"to touch his wounds"
"to hear the voice of the Lord, who speaks to us"

The Heart of Jesus -- the Divine Mercy of God -- gives us a message that is very different from the message of the world. 

Jesus says:  "The sick are numerous and they are my Body. You will find freedom in serving them. I will give you everything you need to serve them well."

Jesus says:  "There is great power and authority in forgiveness. Forgive those who have harmed you, and pray for them."

The Merciful Heart of Jesus says:  "Your faith in me and in my Church is ancient and forever new. Behold! I am sending forth my Spirit to renew the face of the earth. You shall have no other god before me."

Jesus says:  "To those who are mature in faith, filled with hope, and fervent in love I give a peace and joy that is beyond understanding."

The Apostles went forth and preached the Gospel with fervor. They announced the  mercy of God found in Jesus Christ who gave himself for our salvation and rose from the dead. They went forth with trust and confidence, and hundreds were healed; thousands were converted.

We too can go forth and do what they did.  Thanks be to God:  Love is stronger than death; mercy is greater than sin!

Pope Benedict  made a remarkable statement in his recent encyclical, Deus Caritas Est.  He said: "God's passionate love for his people - for humanity - is at the same time a forgiving love.  It is so great that it turns God against himself, his love against his justice." -- Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est.

And we read in the Scriptures: "It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice." (Hosea 6:6; Mt. 9:13, 12:7) God is all just, but even in his perfect justice, mercy prevails, love abounds.

Yes, our Lord's love is revealed as mercy and it is our mission to put his love and mercy into practice in our daily lives after the example  of Jesus.

The Divine Mercy of God is the Heart of Jesus -- a heart that heals, forgives, strengthens us in faith, and brings us peace.

Let us fix our gaze on our Risen Lord and pray, "Jesus, I trust in you!"  Let us draw near to the Heart of Christ flowing with the Divine Mercy of God!