MERCY TOWARDS PEACE

April 15, 2012

Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday

Ac 2,42-47 . 1Pt 1,3-9

Jn 20,19-31

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Jesus comes amid closed doors and, as he presents the wounds of his passion, declares, Peace be with you! The Father has sent me, so I send you.

Blessed John Paul II declared the Second Sunday of Easter as the Divine Mercy Sunday, as he emphasized the need for us to understand the whole message that the Word of God is giving us on this day. In his homily during its institution in 2000, he presented the connection of the messages of the Lord to Saint Faustina to his words to the apostles in today's Gospel. 

Jesus once told St. Faustina, On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. He wants the Church to recognize this day not only as the Octave day of Easter, but as a feast which puts more emphasis on his mercy which springs forth from the sacred blood and water which flowed out from the side of Jesus. The blood and water, symbolizing the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist, is the greatest instrument and manifestation of God's mercy for us.

His mercy leads us to peace! We examine the Image of the Divine Mercy and it resembles that apparition which happened on Easter night to the Apostles. As they were gripped with so much fear, Jesus shows himself and declares peace among the troubled followers. He sends the Spirit of peace among them as he sends them to the world to forgive and proclaim the Good News. He shows his resurrected glory to those whom he loved, and  their belief were more deepened with trust.

Trust is the key for the Doubting Thomas. We see the signature of the Image saying, Jesus, I Trust in You! We can't help but look back at the eight night after the Resurrection when Thomas, full of doubt upon what his brothers saw, wanted to place his hand and fingers on the sacred wounds of the Lord. But upon seeing the Lord first-hand, he fell to his knees and declared, Dominus meus et Deus meus! Through this declaration, Thomas trusted already that the Lord is already alive. At this the Lord declares, Blessed are those who do not see yet believe. 

We contemplate today on the Divine Mercy of Our Lord, and it is indeed a grace for all of us especially now that we are facing a lot of crises in and out of the country in general and of our persons as individuals. As we encounter lots and lots of challenges in our everyday life, we are called by the Lord to trust all the more in His Mercy. Where could we indeed find peace if not in God's infinite Mercy?

We should only open ourselves to His heart of infinite Mercy. he knows all our needs, but we just need to recognize first that it is his mercy that we should attain first before everything else. We can find artificial peace in the things of the world, and yet see it wither after some time. 

Let us dwell ourselves in the Mercy of God. He can only provide us the real peace and serenity, the peace the world cannot give. Let us trust in God's compassion for his wounds led us to the healing of our souls. Let us declare, Dominus meus et Deus meus! Iesu, in te confido!

Let us now pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.