Divine Mercy Sunday

The Gospel tells us that our faith is not founded on scientific proof, but on listening to the word of the Risen One, who is present among us gathered together as a community and who speaks to us. The first reading states that there is something that can be seen and verified, the life of the Christian community, born of faith in the Risen Lord. It is there communities of people leading a completely new kind of life that testifies that Jesus is alive and that he has sent his Spirit into the world. The second reading also invites us to examine our communities to see if they really place the Risen Lord at their centre.

           We must be open to faith to discern God’s action within us. One person we can trust is Jesus. In our seconding reading, Jesus appears to John and told him, “Do not be afraid.” Fear is the opposite of trust. When he tells us do not be afraid, he is telling us to trust him. He is the master over life and death. Also, Jesus’ greeting to his Apostles in today’s Gospel: “Peace be with you.” A person full of fear and anxiety and worry does not know peace. Before we know peace we have to know who we can trust and know that our trust is secure.

           Like Thomas the twin in the story of locked doors, in a symbolic way we are his twin, wanting proof like he did. When we have doubts and questions about our faith, we need to stay with it and not walk away. IF Thomas had walked away, he would never have seen the Lord. The Gospel is telling us, if we stay with it, the Lord will reveal himself to us. We will see him and know him, maybe not with our eyes, but with our mind and heart. So, we are called to be open to the peace of God, the gift of God’s presence, in an attitude and posture without fear, an attitude that is forgiving. Jesus said, “ Blessed are the Peacemakers.” Peace isn’t passive. It’s a bold choice in a broken world. Be the calm in the chaos, the light in the dark. That’s how you reflect Christ. A preacher asked a little boy : “Young fella, aren’t you scared to meet Satan?” The little boy responded: “ No, but you should be, YOU are the one that talks bad about him every Sunday.”