No One Would Be Left Alone

Divine Mercy Sunday
19 April 2009



The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

First reading Acts 4:32-35
The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.

The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all given great respect.

None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 117:2-4,15-18,22-24

Second reading 1 John 5:1-6
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
has been begotten by God;
and whoever loves the Father that begot him
loves the child whom he begets.
We can be sure that we love God’s children
if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us;
this is what loving God is –
keeping his commandments;
and his commandments are not difficult,
because anyone who has been begotten by God
has already overcome the world;
this is the victory over the world –
our faith.
Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God:
Jesus Christ who came by water and blood,
not with water only,
but with water and blood;
with the Spirit as another witness –
since the Spirit is the truth.

Gospel John 20:19-31
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:
‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

Reflection
by Pietro S. Albano

"None of their members was ever in want"

I do remember these words when I was still in the Philippines working in a prestigious university. A new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was being ironed out between the University and the Faculty Union. There have been concerns that tenured (i.e. permanent appointment) faculty members will not be able to secure a full teaching load when the new CBA comes into force. This caused an alarm as I would definitely be affected by this. Together with another faculty member, we sent a manifesto to the various colleges and faculties for our colleagues to sign. The manifesto urges the Union to press the University to secure a full load as they have done in the past. The manifesto ended in these words which come from the Acts of the Apostles.

There was an overwhelming outpour of support which the Union recognized and made strong representation with the University officials. Eventually, all tenured faculty members were assured of a full teaching load.

If communities would pattern their lives after the first Christian community, no one would be in need, no one would be left alone. All are welcome and taken care of.








Lord Jesus, You rose from the dead and through it destroyed the division and hurt caused by sin. Inspire us to follow the life of our forebears who shared whatever they have with others. By sharing Your blessings with the community, may others know that You have indeed conquered the world. Amen.