Dear friends,
Christ is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!
On this Second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Mercy is at the heart of our salvation. God who never denies Himself sent His Son to save us out of love and mercy. The Paschal Mystery is the expression of God’s mercy for us sinners.
Today, the readings put in front us the challenge of faith in Christ’s Resurrection as we are given the story of the doubting Thomas. Today, our doubt is not only refraining us from believing in His resurrection but also from the truth of his presence with us amidst the challenges of our life. The truth about today’s celebration is that, if God has sacrificed His Only Begotten for us while we were still sinners, how much more would not he journeying with us throughout the challenges of life? His mercy is endless and begs only faith and trust from on our part.
Thomas, whom we always call the ”doubter” or “doubting” did not just remain in doubt. He came to believe that Christ is truly his Risen Lord and God. This faith led him to confess him, saying: “My Lord and my God.” You and I are invited to pass from doubt to faith in the power of Christ to free us from every bondage, fear and hopelessness.
Today, the Church affords us the opportunity to experience God’s mercy in a special way. Our Divine Mercy Novena draws to its end. In the afternoon we will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation as we seek for full indulgences for our past and present sins. As we come back today to the Church at 2 pm to celebrate the mercy of God and participate to the Celebration of mass at 3 pm to close our novena, we receive from His merciful Heart fullness of forgiveness for our sins, past and present.
The consequence of all this for us is that we are once again restored to full friendship with the Lord and with one another, as children of God’s family. These easter celebrations give us the opportunity to strive to be of one heart and mind in the fulfillment of our mission of proclaiming to truth of the resurrection and the building of the kingdom of God. Like Thomas, and especially Saint Joseph whose intercession we ask to obtain the grace of Faith, let us surrender to the truth of the Resurrection of the Lord and strive to bear witness to the novelty of the kingdom we are meant to build. With faith and trust in Christ, our doubt will eclipse and the light of the resurrection will shine in our homes, workplaces, schools and wherever Christ sends us.
You have been shown mercy, go and do likewise. And let us continue to pray for one another and for our parish family.
Fr. Emery