DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Second Sunday of Easter: Jn20: 19-31

            Today is Second Sunday of Easter. Also known as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy. This was declared at the canonization of St. Faustina in 2000, by Pope John Paul II that, “throughout the world, the Second Sunday of Easter will be called the Divine Mercy Sunday, an invitation to all Christians in the World to pray, with confidence in a special way for the divine and benevolent mercy.

            In today’s gospel we find two ideas: the first one is the idea peace. Jesus came into the house where his disciples were hiding and said to them: “Peace be with you”. It is a bit striking. This is the first time he meets his disciples after the resurrection and his first words are words of peace. Did he forget what these disciples did to Him during His passion and death? Peter denied Him three times; the crowd shouted at him, ‘Crucify Him;’ and the disciples abandoned Him; but he comes and just says, ‘Peace be with you’? What a strange attitude. I am sure the disciples were expecting a kind of tough reproach. But he didn’t. He says peace be with you.

In Hebrew, the word peace is shalom, which basically means, “to be safe.” When you say to a person, “shalom”, you are wishing that person good health, prosperity, security, and well being. It basically means salvation. Jesus is saying "Be safe", you are saved; I have forgiven you. Peace be with you. These words are hand in hand with the divine mercy Sunday, which we celebrate today.

            The second idea is about the doubt of Thomas. It is true and normal that the disciples were saddened by the death of Jesus. Initially all of them had their doubts. But because of their encounter with the Risen Lord, their doubt was turned into faith. But Thomas missed that experienced because he was absent. When he receives the news that they saw the Lord he is probably saying: Is that a joke? Is this a hallucination? He wants proof, which is normal.

            If the story stops here we could say that Thomas was not a true disciple. But as the story continues, we see the important element in the action of Jesus Christ. Jesus comes a second time. When he comes the second time Thomas is present. This action is not to berate Thomas. The action of Jesus is to give him what he needs to enhance and encourage his faith. Jesus does not appear to correct Thomas. Jesus wants to show that he offers himself so that all may have faith.

            Thomas received another opportunity because our God is a God of mercy, and he comes, not just once but repeatedly, so that all may be saved. Through Thomas, we have a place and a reason to doubt. We have the necessity of questioning our faith. Thomas’ doubt should not be understood only as lack of faith but as a valid human effort to struggle with difficult issues. Thomas' concern was: is Jesus really raised from the dead? Is he really alive? And when he saw him, there was no need for Thomas to touch Jesus’ wounds. Instead he fell on his knees and cried: “My Lord and My God.”

            This attitude is an assurance that the Lord will reveal himself, and will give an unmistakable faith to those who want to believe. In Thomas we learn that even doubts can eventually be resolved if one does not detach himself or herself from the community but remains within it.

           This experience tells us that the answer to our religious questions and doubts is not outside the Church. The answer is right in here. When you are in doubt, think of Thomas and learn from his own experience. Come in the community to meet Jesus there. This story is about a merciful and loving Jesus. He is so merciful that He will come to us again and again to give us what we need in order to believe. Like Thomas, we have no need to touch Jesus in corporal form in order to believe; we only need to experience his presence among us. May the risen Lord give us strong faith.