April 11, 2021

Sunday of Divine Mercy

• Acts 4:32-35
• 1 John 5:1-6
• John 20:19-31

“My Strength and My Courage is the Lord.” Ps 118, 14

Reflection written by: Janet McDermott, MTS

Today, the octave of Easter, the Church celebrates the Sunday of Divine Mercy.  Historically, the celebration is rooted in the Hebrew’s Day of Atonement when the people of God would gather to acknowledge their guilt, laying all their sins upon a lamb or goat and then banishing the animal into the wilderness to die – all as a means of finding favor once more with God.  As Christian believers we too are reminded that we too have a lamb who bore our sinfulness – Jesus the Lamb of God, whose death we so recently memorialized.  This is the Sunday we turn to our merciful God, asking in the Most Holy Name of Jesus, for God’s mercy and for the forgiveness of our sins.

Today’s gospel seems to illustrate how the mercy of God is manifested. The Gospel recounts how the Apostles were gathered in isolation, astonished by their experience of Jesus’ actual presence in their midst.  Thomas, as we remember, was not there when Jesus first appeared to the dazed Apostles.  I wondered what went on in their hearts when Jesus left that first meeting, their hesitation and struggle as they told Thomas about seeing the Lord.  As I looked ahead in preparation for this reflection, I was struck by how much Thomas’ reaction to the news of Jesus’ resurrection and continued presence parallels my own.  It’s like the more I know about God and God’s mysterious works, the more I question my understanding of it.  And I am assured that I am not the only one, perhaps the reader or others struggle as well – like the Apostle Thomas.  Jesus simply tells Thomas “do not be unbelieving but believe”.  Amazing mercy.  Thomas received the faith that he needed, in the manner he could receive it.

And, for those of us who fail, who don’t understand, who are weak? What do we do then?  God didn’t leave us to guess how to find forgiveness.  In this Sunday’s gospel Jesus himself gave to the Apostles the Holy Spirit and, with that Spirit, the power to forgive all of our sins.  That is why we too are asked to declare with the Psalmist, “His mercy endures forever.” And, (the Psalm continues) we remember those times in our own lives when “I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me.  My strength and courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior.”  We have turned to God and have found what we need.

I find comfort in a saying that appears on a coffee mug in my kitchen: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb 11:1  [I found that mug in a store on my way home from a weekend Retreat! ]  For me, it’s a way to let go and let God finish the work.

In the context of this Sunday’s scripture, faith is believing that, although there will be times when our faith and understanding of the mysteries so recently celebrated in our Church become difficult – times felt by all of us when seeing a half-full Church and being limited in gatherings with community and friends, that Jesus is still among us.  And, especially when the mystery of God’s work in our lives becomes difficult to grasp, that God is there with mercy and love.  This God, who came to show us that love, has also provided the faith community with the power to heal and forgive – a forgiveness secured by the sacrifice of the Lamb acting for us in the sacramental Church.

This is the Sunday of Divine Mercy.  Let us all turn to our God asking for that forgiving mercy for ourselves, for our families and friends, for our Church and for the many struggling in our Nation and around the world.  It is a mercy that is demonstrated at the very high price – the life and death of the Son of Man – God’s Son Jesus.

For further consideration:

• Recall an instance when you have called to God for help and received the help you need.
• Are there times that you have asked for help and, upon looking back, realized later that the help was given in perhaps unexpected ways?
• God’s mercy is offered for individuals but also for the greater community.  How can you offer God’s mercy to others?