Divine Mercy Sunday

I would like to thank all for your involvement in celebrating the Easter Season this year. Thank you, all commissions and groups, for your hard work and commitment to make this time of year special. Thank you those who decorated the Church for Lent and Easter. Also, I would like to thank the Music Director and the Choir for the music. Especially I would like to thank our Deacon Bill. Thank you all. God bless.

Last Sunday, we commemorated the glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This Sunday, we are called to remember what happened after Jesus resurrected.

During the first part of today's Gospel Reading, we read that the apparition of Jesus to His disciples took place on the first day of the week, that being a Sunday. The apparition took place on the evening of the same day that Jesus had resurrected. It is important to notice on which day of the week that these events were instituted by the Lord Jesus in order to undertand how, in the early days of the Church, the Sabbath was replaced with Sunday.

On that evening, living in fear of the authorities, the disciples had gathered together in a house and they had locked the doors Siddemly, Jesus stood among them. at first. the disciples wee startled and terrified. They thought that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus said, "Peace be with you." And He showed His hands and His side to His disciples. This Bible passage proves that Jesus was truly nailed to the corss

When the reality had finally set in and the disciple realized that it wa beyond doubt that Jesus who was before them, they rejoiced. Being counted among the many witnesses of the glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, all their fear disappeared.

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you." As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Having said this, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

Up until now, the Holy Bible reveals to us three things that happeded on Easter Day. First, Jesus resurrected early on Easter Sunday. Secondly, He had not yet ascemded tp the Father. Thirdly, during the evening, He gave the Holy Spiit to the world.

Next, we are taken to the moment when Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." In response to these words, Thomas answred. "My Lord and my God!" Seeing was sufficient. Thoms believed because He saw Jesus.

Today's Reading from the Gospel of John concludes by telling us that Jesus said, "Blssed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." These powerful words of Jesus wre not meant just for the little group that was present in the house. It was a blessing that was intended to surpass the days of the firt disciples. It was addresse to all Christians of all time, that including the faithful of today.

This Sunday is called Divine Mercy Sunday which is always elebrated on the Sunday after Easter. It is originally based on our Catholic devotion to the divine Mercy that SAint Faustina Kowalska reported as part of her encounter with Jesus, and is addociated with special promises from Jesus and indulgence issued by the Church.

                                 May God bless all of us,

                                                              Fr. D.

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