Second Sunday of Easter
(Divine Mercy Sunday)
(Divine Mercy Sunday)
08 April 2018
| Second reading 1 John 5:1-6 |
|---|
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God,
and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers
the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus
Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.
And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood,
and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony
of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified
to his Son.
and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers
the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus
Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.
And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood,
and these three agree. If we receive human testimony, the testimony
of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified
to his Son.
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Reflection
By Gary Tulabut
In September of 2014, a scandal hit a giant shopping mall because one of its tenants was not diligent enough to do a 100% inspection of their incoming merchandise to make sure nothing offensive is printed in any of the pieces of apparel they sell. I am talking about the “a snuggle with a struggle” print of a shirt which was a reference to rape. Of course this is unacceptable! And, as a disclaimer, nothing in the next words that you will read here is ever meant to justify that mistake.
I learned about that scandal, not from the news but, from social media (Where else?). It was not even a friend’s post but that of an acquaintance sharing a news article. She placed her own caption with the shared article. I do not remember the exact words but I think the caption read, “And to think this mall plays the Angelus every 6 and 12 o’clock…”
My first thought after reading that was, “so if I pray the Angelus regularly, I cannot make mistakes.”
Sad to say, the world is very watchful of us Christians, especially of those of us in the limelight. People are very critical of us that every mistake we make is a blow against the image of the Church ourselves.
They do not understand that we hate the sin but we love the sinner. And that we will try our best to make the sinner repent and go back to God’s ways rather that condemn him/her forever.
Even we lay people are sometimes critical of our Church leaders and some religious people that some would leave the Church when they become disappointed in any of the members or leaders.
Friends, yes we strive to be perfect because our Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48.) But I believe God Himself gave us the room to make mistakes. Look at King David. As a young shepherd who was about to fight Goliath, he picked up five stones (1 Samuel 17:40.) Why five and not one? Isn’t God by his side that one stone is enough to defeat Goliath?
There were quite a bunch of our Bible heroes who were not perfect. Moses killed an Egyptian and buried him in the sand; Jonah was stubborn. Paul persecuted Christians; David had his general killed so he could get the soldier’s wife as his; Solomon was a womanizer. Matthew was a tax cheater. Peter was hard-headed and boastful; He also denied Jesus three times; and the list goes on.
Today, in the Gospel, we see Thomas committing a mistake of doubting the Lord’s resurrection. (Peter also had his faith tested when he was walking on the water, but I wonder why it was only Thomas who was nicknamed Doubting Thomas.) Anyway, Thomas was forgiven and was lectured by Jesus about his lack of faith. But he remained to be one of the pillars of the early Church.
Friends, the almost 2000-year history of the Church has been bombarded with mistakes, scandals even. Thomas' honest mistake was nothing compared to them. Other denominations should even thank the Catholic Church because they do not need to commit the same mistakes that the early Church had done.
But despite all these humiliations, the Church remains standing strong.
I don’t think it’s because of our flawed leaders both now and in the past.
I think it’s because of the Founder.
Prayer
In September of 2014, a scandal hit a giant shopping mall because one of its tenants was not diligent enough to do a 100% inspection of their incoming merchandise to make sure nothing offensive is printed in any of the pieces of apparel they sell. I am talking about the “a snuggle with a struggle” print of a shirt which was a reference to rape. Of course this is unacceptable! And, as a disclaimer, nothing in the next words that you will read here is ever meant to justify that mistake.
I learned about that scandal, not from the news but, from social media (Where else?). It was not even a friend’s post but that of an acquaintance sharing a news article. She placed her own caption with the shared article. I do not remember the exact words but I think the caption read, “And to think this mall plays the Angelus every 6 and 12 o’clock…”
My first thought after reading that was, “so if I pray the Angelus regularly, I cannot make mistakes.”
Sad to say, the world is very watchful of us Christians, especially of those of us in the limelight. People are very critical of us that every mistake we make is a blow against the image of the Church ourselves.
They do not understand that we hate the sin but we love the sinner. And that we will try our best to make the sinner repent and go back to God’s ways rather that condemn him/her forever.
Even we lay people are sometimes critical of our Church leaders and some religious people that some would leave the Church when they become disappointed in any of the members or leaders.
Friends, yes we strive to be perfect because our Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48.) But I believe God Himself gave us the room to make mistakes. Look at King David. As a young shepherd who was about to fight Goliath, he picked up five stones (1 Samuel 17:40.) Why five and not one? Isn’t God by his side that one stone is enough to defeat Goliath?
There were quite a bunch of our Bible heroes who were not perfect. Moses killed an Egyptian and buried him in the sand; Jonah was stubborn. Paul persecuted Christians; David had his general killed so he could get the soldier’s wife as his; Solomon was a womanizer. Matthew was a tax cheater. Peter was hard-headed and boastful; He also denied Jesus three times; and the list goes on.
Today, in the Gospel, we see Thomas committing a mistake of doubting the Lord’s resurrection. (Peter also had his faith tested when he was walking on the water, but I wonder why it was only Thomas who was nicknamed Doubting Thomas.) Anyway, Thomas was forgiven and was lectured by Jesus about his lack of faith. But he remained to be one of the pillars of the early Church.
Friends, the almost 2000-year history of the Church has been bombarded with mistakes, scandals even. Thomas' honest mistake was nothing compared to them. Other denominations should even thank the Catholic Church because they do not need to commit the same mistakes that the early Church had done.
But despite all these humiliations, the Church remains standing strong.
I don’t think it’s because of our flawed leaders both now and in the past.
I think it’s because of the Founder.
Thank You Father for allowing us to commit mistakes. But more so, thank You for your forgiving love. May the faith of Your Church be on You and not on Your stewards. In Jesus' mighty Name. Amen.
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