Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy 2019:

Today we bring out week-long celebration of the Octave of Easter to a close.  This used to be called “Low Sunday” because the church is coming down from this high celebration of Easter.  But, in recent years, this Sunday has been renamed “Divine Mercy Sunday.”  Divine Mercy is a devotion to Our Lord and his great mercy.  Jesus appeared to St. Faustina Kowalska and told her to spread the message of his mercy. Her diary contains these messages from Jesus.  I have always found the message of Divine Mercy to be a beautiful and inspiration message. It is a powerful reminder that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world.  Jesus does not want to condemn sinner, but to forgive them. If this sounds at all interesting and inspirational, look into the divine mercy devotion.  You will find it wonderful as I have.

It seems to me that today’s gospel passage is a perfect one for the message of divine mercy.  What are the first words of Jesus: Peace be with you.  The message of mercy is that we find that peace in the mercy and forgiveness of Christ.  But, the context for this message is so important.  Jesus utters these words in the midst of his disciples when they were hiding out of fear.  Why were they afraid?  Jesus had been taken and killed.  Also, the apostles didn’t do so well when Jesus was arrested.  Even Peter denied him three times.  Seems like fear is a good response.  They were afraid of being persecuted by the leaders.  Maybe they feared Jesus’ disappointment.  In the context of all this guilt, shame, and fear, Jesus breaks into the room and utters these simple words: Peace be with you. These words symbolize the forgiveness of sins that Christ won for them.  Peace be with you.  Then he takes it one step further.  Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven.  The other reason why this gospel is the perfect gospel for Divine Mercy is that this gospel is the very beginning of the sacrament of confession.  Jesus forgives the sins of the apostles with his words: Peace be with you.  Then he gives them the power of the Holy Spirit so that they can forgive sins by the power of the sacrament of confession.  Divine Mercy Sunday always has a connection to the power of the forgiveness of sins in the sacrament of confession.  

But, I want to make the connection to another sacrament as well.  Thomas wasn’t there the first time.  His doubts remained.  How was Jesus able to overcome those doubts?  He shows Thomas his body.  On this Divine Mercy Sunday we celebrate the Holy Eucharist.  Jesus continues to show us his body, on this altar.  The Eucharist is the sacrament of God’s mercy because it is the body of Christ continually poured out for us.  His mercy endures forever.  

This is an exciting weekend for us here at the Cathedral. At the 11:30 mass, our young people will receive their First Holy Communion.  They are really excited about receiving communion for the first time.  Just like Thomas, Jesus will reveal himself to them in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.  This great gift is given to all of us as a way for us to grow in our faith.

When I was a kid, someone taught me that there is no better prayer to say after receiving communion than the prayer of St. Thomas that we heard today in the gospel: My Lord and my God.  So, may our First communion kids and all of us who receive our Lord on this Divine Mercy Sunday grow in our faith.  When we receive Holy Communion let us recognized Christ and say: My Lord and My God.