CHRIST: THE FACE OF MERCY
Christ is the visible face of the Divine Mercy of God. The most evidential proof is that God is not a moralist legalist or sadist bent on eternal punishment for sinners. It is the unfathomable mercy and grace at work in us even in our sinful state. “Where sin abounds, grace (or mercy) abounds much more.” Romans 5:20
THE MERCY SUNDAY
The resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ opens up to us the fountain of unfathomable mercy of God. The Divine inexhaustible Mercy of God is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the Risen Christ and offers to humanity.
Liturgically, the Divine Mercy Sunday (also known as the Feast of the Divine Mercy) is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, which concludes the Octave of Easter. The feast day is observed by Roman Catholics as well as some Anglicans.
The Unfathomable Mercy of God is a love that responds to human needs in an unexpected or unmerited way. At its core, mercy is forgiveness and the obtaining of unmerited grace.
OUR THEME
The readings of this Sunday invite us to this profound mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. We need a trusting Faith in the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus´ suffering, death, and Resurrection.
The early Christian community met constantly in prayer, in the parting of the bread and sharing the cup, in reflection of the Holy Scripture and the apostolic teachings experienced the Risen Lord in their communal life and later bore witness to him.
The biblical post-resurrection events are very important to overcome the scandal of a dead man rising to life after three days. Indeed, the resurrection is inexplicable, it is a religious experience, a faith encounter with the Risen Lord who showed and continues to show himself to those who long and seek him out in their life, either for a physical or spiritual resurrection.
A physical or spiritual resurrection through, in, and by the unfathomable mercy of God is our mission and the mission of the Church.
FIRST READING: ACTS 4:32-35
For the whole season of Easter, the first reading comes from the Acts of the Apostles; today’s segment describes how the first disciples interpreted Christian ideals.
The early Christian community met constantly in prayer, in the parting of the bread and sharing the cup, in reflection of the Holy Scripture and the apostolic teachings experienced the Risen Lord in their communal life and later bore witness to him.
There was a deep sense of total sharing, among the first Christians in truth, honesty, sincerity, and trust. They all lived with one heart and soul in the One Body of Christ: the Church or Christian community.
This vivid picture of true fraternal and communal living in the early Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit was the true and authentic testimony of the early Christian church. It was a Christian community of truthfulness, equity, justice, and fairness.
Hence, their testimonies through constant prayer, fellowship, Eucharistic meals, and apostolic teaching brought joy, peace, and an increase in their number. As well as there were manifestations of wonders and signs in their midst.
The psalmist in Psalm 118 one of the longest Psalms in the bible stresses the unfathomable mercy and love of God. He sings chorally: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love is everlasting”. Therefore, the Psalm invites us to reflect on the everlasting and enduring nature of the mercy and love of God to all, especially to sinners in need of his saving grace and mercy.
SECOND READING: 1 JOHN 5:1-6
Our faith in Christ Jesus is a result of our love for God and our obedience to God´s commandments. However, this love for God and the children of God begins and ends in God´s first love for us in Christ Jesus. Believing Jesus is the Christ is what marks out a Christian. This faith becomes visible in love.
However, there is merit in the power of doubt. The act of doubt by Thomas and the subsequent profession of faith in Christ after seeing the proofs he sought led to the greater blessing of those without proof who believed. In other words, this declaration merits an eternal blessing for those who believe in the Risen Christ without physical verification but faith alone.
This is because the unfathomable mercy of God is all our faith celebrates in Christ. The Easter song of alleluia is our victory and mercy song in Christ Jesus our Resurrected Lord and Saviour: the King of Eternal Mercy of God.
THE GOSPEL: JOHN 20:19-31
PEACE BE WITH YOU
The Resurrected Christ declared three times in the Gospel text of today, “Peace be with you” to his fearful and scaring disciples and apostles. This greeting of peace means more than just “May you be saved from trouble.” It means: “May God give you every good thing.” It is a soothing peace amid torment, crisis, worries, fears, and uncertainty. Peace is also a sign of reconciliation and forgiveness.
Hence, the Risen Lord comforted the depressed community of his disciples with a greeting of peace and reaffirmed the uncertainty and doubts of Thomas with his presence. And there was overflowing joy, deepening faith, and serene peace at Christ’s encounter with them.
BLESSING OF FAITH
That is, the Risen and Empathy Christ continues to appear and reappears to the fearful disciples assuring them of his realness and putting to rest their doubts and reservations on him. The gospel contains the story of Thomas coming to terms with Jesus’ resurrection. The doubting Thomas affirms a solid faith in the Risen Christ after a personal experience: “My Lord and my God”.
However, there is merit in the power of doubt. The act of doubt by Thomas and the subsequent profession of faith in Christ after seeing the proofs he sought led to the greater blessing of those without proof who believed. In other words, this declaration merits an eternal blessing for those who believe in the Risen Christ without physical verification but faith alone.
THOMAS´S CHARACTER
a. He made one mistake. He withdrew from the Christian fellowship. He sought loneliness rather than togetherness. Hence, not only sadness and sorrow engulfed him but a divine manifestation of Christ in the Christian community.
b. Thomas had two great virtues. He refused to say that he understood what he did not understand, or that he believed what he did not believe. There is an uncompromising honesty about him. There is shame or sin in faith seeking understanding or belief through concrete proofs.
c. Thomas’ other great virtue was that when he was sure, he went the whole way. “My Lord and my God!” said he. There was no halfway house about Thomas. Faith in the Resurrected Christ is not “try and error” but absolute conviction.
FORGIVENESS OF SINS
At the same time, Jesus commissioned his disciples on the mission for mercy through the forgiveness of sins. “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.” John 20:23
This action of Christ´s invitation to us to continue God´s work of redemption which the Father sent him to do is the central mission of the post-resurrection Christian community. It is also a work of redemption with the Holy Spirit that will help us to carry it out effectively and efficiently. This work of redemption is the forgiveness of sins by Christ´s name through the action of the Holy Spirit in God, the Father.
THERE ARE FOUR THINGS VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF TODAY: MERCY SUNDAY:
1. Christ is the visible face of God’s inexhaustible mercy.
2. The message of unfathomable mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation is the heart and centre of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
3. The Apostolic tradition and the Church cannot be anything else than the Divine Mercy of God. The Church is an instrument of Divine Mercy no more, no less. And it is a home of mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation for all.
4. We all are encouraged to give and receive forgiveness from one another to experience the unfathomable mercy of God.
ENDLESS AND UNFAILING MERCY
Christ is the visible face of the Divine Mercy of God. The most evidential proof is that God is not a moralist legalist or sadist bent on eternal punishment for sinners. It is the unfathomable mercy and grace at work in us even in our sinful state. “Where sin abounds, grace (or mercy) abounds much more.” Romans 5:20
This is one of my favourite biblical passages: “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Ps. 103:8-10.
MERCY AND JUSTICE
Yet, we must always and everywhere remember that the unfathomable mercy of God is the unmerited grace we have to repent of our sins. Through, Christ’s name and mercy, God holds back his justified wrath or delays divine judgment. He does this to provide us with the opportunity for conversion.
The Divine mercy of God grants sinners and indeed all of us a period of grace. Fundamentally, the unfathomable Mercy is ultimately a grace for conversion. St. Paul articulated this perfectly when he argues in Rom. 2:4, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
CONCLUSION OF MERCY SUNDAY
Mercy is all that is, in God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. The grace of a godly life is all the mercy of God acting in us towards others. God´s mercy is reach through sincere confession and forgiveness
OUR PRAYER
Lord, Thomas doubted your resurrection and gave us the Eucharistic response of my Lord and my God! “Dominus Meus et Deus Meus” Like Thomas, we have self-doubt, doubt about others, and even more about you and the mysteries of faith. Help us with your GRACE and MERCY to go through our doubts and faith crises looking more closely to the image of the Risen Christ! The face of your Divine and inexhaustible Mercy! Amen!
