Divine Mercy Sunday
| First reading |
|---|
| Acts 5:12-16 |
The faithful all used to meet by common consent in the Portico of Solomon. No one else ever dared to join them, but the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. So many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles that the sick were even taken out into the streets and laid on beds and sleeping-mats in the hope that at least the shadow of Peter might fall across some of them as he went past. People even came crowding in from the towns round about Jerusalem, bringing with them their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were cured.
| Responsorial Psalm |
|---|
| Psalm 117:2-4,22-27 |
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.
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 Fely C. Santiago
By Fely C. Santiago
“My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my savior.”
How are you my friend? Are you currently being squeezed by the challenges of life, stress, and pressure? Are you passing through a storm, a severe storm in your life? The same must have been felt by the apostles after their beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross. But what a consolation when Jesus came and stood in their midst and said “Peace be with you..”!
God is telling you now...”PEACE be with you my child. I am here for you. I love you. I died for you. Whatever storm you maybe going through, just hold on. Stay in faith. I will never abandon you. I am holding you in the palm of my hands. Be strong. One day this will just be one of the many good stories you will share. How I remain faithful. How my GRACE is sufficient for you each day.”
So be at PEACE. God will lift you up from the storm, from these trials. He will heal your diseases, bless your problems because God is bigger than your biggest problems. He will comfort you in your financial woes. God will direct you to the right paths. Have no fear. Take courage and surrender your burdens to Him. Surrender all your worries, anxieties, all your needs, your problems and your trials.
Say YES to His unconditional love, His overflowing blessings, healing and miracles. Claim your victory for you are a CHILD of GOD.
Prayer
Our loving and merciful God, thank You for your offer of PEACE. May the Easter fire of this season set my heart aflame and be the fire that would blaze the world. Hold my heart close and sing Your love to me so my doubts and fears would not play in my thoughts and make me afraid. May I recognize Your face in those around me so I could be an agent of Your healing their wounds. Give me Your PEACE that I may have the compassion to love as You unconditionally love me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen .
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