Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) – April 28, 2019.

Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118:2-4.13-15.22-24; Rev. 1:9-11a.12-13;

Gospel – John 20:19-31.

Theme: Mercy As Post-Easter Mandate!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, as an Easter people, the Alleluia mandate is one that we are still excited about. While the busiest week in the Church’s liturgical calendar has come and gone, the Second Sunday of Easter which is also referred to as Divine Mercy Sunday points to the unfathomable mercies of God. In the spirit of today’s liturgy, I would like us to reflect on the theme: “Mercy As Post-Easter Mandate.” I hope this message urges us to be disciples of God’s mercies even as we proclaim the resurrection through being ambassadors of mercy and peace.

Background & Summary of the Readings  

Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5:12-16) tells how the apostles were empowered by the Holy Spirit and worked signs and wonders among the people. It recalls how they were one in heart and many people joined the faith. Because they were witnesses of the resurrection, we are told that people came in their numbers from around Jerusalem bringing the sick on beds and sleeping-mats as well as those tormented by unclean spirits and all of them were cured. In fact, as Peter passed, his shadow fell across some people and they received their healing.     

In the second reading from Revelations (Rev. 1:9-11a.12-13) John writes his experience on the Island of Patmos. He testifies to the post-resurrection experience by narrating how the Word of God and of witness to Jesus took him into a holy-frenzy. At the sound of the trumpet, he was told to write down in a book what he saw and send it to the seventh Churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadilpia and Laodicea. Amidst the seven golden lamp-stands, he saw the Son of Man dressed in a long robe tied around his waist with a golden belt.    

The gospel (John 20:19-31) recounts how Jesus appeared to the apostles on the first day of the week with the message, “Peace be with you” thrice. It tells how he showed them his hands and his side. We are told that the disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. He then breathed on them and gave them the power to forgive sins. Meanwhile, Thomas was not around when the Lord appeared and when the disciples related the matter to him, he denied and insisted that unless he sees the holes made by the nails and his side, he would not belief.

To his surprise, Jesus appeared eight days later with the message of peace and dared Thomas to put his finger in his hands and his side.  To this, Thomas said, “My Lord and My God.” At this profession of faith, Jesus said, “You believe because you have seen me, happy are those who have not seen, yet believe.” The reading also reveals that there were many other things that Jesus did which were not recorded in the bible but these were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Son of God and by believing, we might gain eternal life. This leads us to the message of mercy.

Sr. Faustina and Divine Mercy

Sr. Faustina Kowalska who received the message of Divine Mercy was described Pope John Paul II as “a gift of God for our time” and “to the whole Church.” He made this assertion in his sermon on the canonization of Sister Faustina on 30 April 2000 while reminding the world about his great joy in presenting the life and witness of Sr. Faustina. 

He particularly recalled the words of Jesus to Sr. Faustina: “Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy.” The Holy Father also stated that “through the work of the Polish religious, this message has become linked forever to the 20th century, the last of the second millennium and the bridge to the third. It is not a new message but can be considered a gift of special enlightenment that helps us to relive the Gospel of Easter more intensely, to offer it as a ray of light to the men and women of our time.”

Practical Lessons

1. We are charged to be merciful like the Father whose mercy is boundless as revealed by God to St. Faustina.  

2. We are urged to allow God to elevate us to the echelon of Divine Mercy which can transform the world even though his mercy cannot be compared to human mercy.

3. We are to ensure that those who have been hurt by others and have lost a sense of divine forgiveness can create a space for God in their hearts so that his divine touch can transform their lives by an inner renewal.

4. As a contemporary Church, we are urged to keep the steam of the healing ministry of Jesus by paying attention on the sick and those troubled by evil spirits rather than the trend of talking only about money. 

5. That Peter’s shadow could heal the sick challenges pastors of souls to seek personal holiness and keep a constant communication with God who is able to use them for his mighty works.

6. The message of St. John to the seven churches should serve as an encouragement to Christians in Sri Lanka, Egypt and North-Eastern Nigeria who are under Islamic terrorism that the Lord is with his Church until the end of time.

7. Despite the current persecution of Christians around the world, the message of Revelations that the Son of Man is seen dressed in a long robe with a belt of gold around his waist assures the Church that martyrs and all those who suffer on account of the kingdom would be rewarded at the end of the ages.

8. By saying “Peace be with you” to his disciples thrice, Jesus challenges us to ensure peace in our hearts, homes and communities.

9. Once again, Jesus assures that the Church is the bastion of mercy which forgives in his name that was why he said: “Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”

10. That the resurrected Jesus could penetrate the locked-room where the disciples were shows that he is transcendent and immanent and is with us until the end of the world.

11. Our gospel reminds us that the bible is not a literature book which contains all that Jesus did which is why it insists that these few were written for us to believe and so have everlasting life. 

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. The Alleluia mandate is one that we are still excited about.

2. Divine Mercy Sunday points to the unfathomable mercies of God.

3. As Peter passed, his shadow fell across some people and they received their healing.    

4. [Jesus] He …breathed on them and gave them the power to forgive sins.

5. Thomas said, “My Lord and My God.”

Conclusion

Sr. Faustina reminds us to keep a date with the Lord every three O’ Clock - the hour of mercy. We are equally encouraged to recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily. By displaying the Portrait of Divine Mercy in our homes and Churches, we become disciples of mercy who are challenged to live justly and act mercifully. It behoves one and all to translate God’s mercy into concrete action aimed at bringing others to Christ.

In our hones, places of work, Church and world, we are charged to always recall the pious words of Pope John Paul II: “The light of divine mercy, which the Lord in a way wished to return to the world through Sr. Faustina’s charism, will illumine the way for the men and women of the third millennium” and beyond.

For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.