Divine Mercy Sunday

Today's Mass Readings

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, our readings provide a description of corporal works of mercy in the first Christian community and spiritual works of mercy performed by our Lord in the presence of the disciples. God’s mercy is made tangible, in part, through the institution of the Sacrament of Penance, which is described in today’s Gospel reading. When Jesus addresses the disciples he states “As the Father sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (Jn 20:21-23) God allows us an opportunity to be restored in his grace through this sacrament. In our first reading from Acts, insights into the structure of the first Christian community are provided and the role that mercy played in that community is highlighted. As we know, the corporal acts of mercy have been identified as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead. We are told that the first Christian community was able to implement these activities into their community such that “. . . there was no needy person among them.” (Acts 4:34) Material possessions in this first community were “. . . distributed to each according to need.” (Acts 4:35) Through these acts of mercy, the community of believers became “. . . of one heart and mind.” (Acts 4:32)

In our Gospel reading, our Lord sets forth numerous examples of spiritual works of mercy. As we know, spiritual works of mercy have been identified as counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing sinners, comforting the afflicted, forgiving offenses, bearing wrongs patiently and praying for the living and the dead. Many, if not all, of these spiritual works of mercy are exemplified through our Lord’s interaction with Thomas who, upon being told of the Resurrection, responds “Unless I see the mark of the nail in his hands and put my finger in the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (Jn 20:25)

What is Jesus’ reaction to Thomas’ doubt? We are told that he comes to Thomas, although doors were locked, and announces to Thomas and the other disciples “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19) Jesus then instructs Thomas to place his hands on the wounds. Upon touching the wounds of Christ, Thomas exclaims “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28)

The interaction between Jesus and Thomas is an invitation to consider our own relationship with Christ. While we have likely all witnessed the presence of God via some event, be it the death of a loved one or the birth of a child or some other dramatic moment, it seems that we are inclined to allow our faith to be prompted by these dramatic events. These events become our own touching of the wounds, between which our daily routine may push our faith into the background. In response to this, Jesus provides “Blessed are those who have not seen and believed.” (Jn 20:29) Like Thomas, when our faith fades into the background, Jesus will come to us through the locked doors that we have constructed in our own hearts, but blessed are those whose faith needs no such reassurance.

- John Sperino