Oh, mercy, mercy me! Things ain't what they used to be! The incredible Marvin Gaye sang these lyrics over 40 year ago. Indeed, mercy, mercy me!
Haven't all of us needed mercy? And hopefully, many of us have offered mercy. How often in our lives have we caught ourselves in everyday situations uttering those same words we pray at Mass: "Lord have mercy"?
As people of faith, we need God's mercy and in his resurrected Son, we have Divine Mercy!!
Today is Catholic overload. I hope you share my excitement because I can hardly contain myself! We are still in the Octave of Easter, rejoicing in the Resurrection and singing Easter Alleluia's. Today, we celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy! And on this Feast of Divine Mercy we have the historic and spiritually significant canonizations of two Pope's: John XXIII and John Paul II. What an awesome day to be together in community and celebrate our faith!! And if that is not enough, locally our parish community celebrated Confirmation during this Easter week with 11 young adults and 4 adults being sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. And we will celebrate today 2 Baptisms! Catholic overload!
Today's Gospel on this Feast of Divine Mercy gives us the familiar story of doubting Thomas. We know the story well. For me, all I can say is poor Thomas! He totally missed out on the first appearance of Jesus after the Resurrection in the upper room. When the others relate the story to him, he doubts. Like us, Thomas says I need proof! Prove it to me! Notice how Jesus handles the challenge. With mercy and patience, on his next appearance a week later, Jesus gives Thomas want he wants: proof! Jesus let Thomas touch his wounds and come to believe! Thomas now knows for certain and says clearly, my Lord and my God! Do we call Jesus our Lord and God? And if we do, is it in faith, or do we too require more proof. Blessed are those who believe and have not seen! Yes, poor Thomas will be forever known as doubting Thomas, but we all can admit that sometimes, in our own weakness, we doubt too.
Let's return to that first appearance, the one that Thomas missed! Jesus also gave power to the Apostles upon that visit. Breathing on them, he told them they could now forgive or retain sins! Jesus Himself institutes the Sacrament of Reconciliation! 2,000 years later, the successors of these Apostles, Bishops & Priests, acting in the person of Jesus, can absolve our sins when we seek to make a good confession. Instead of doubt, we should remember the words of Divine Mercy: Jesus, I trust in you!
This weekend, and in the week ahead, there is so much we can do to grow in faith and erase our doubts. Reread this Gospel and we can ask ourselves, if in Thomas' shoes, would we too have doubts, would we require proof? Can we admit that it may indeed be time to return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation? How much do we know about today's Feast of Divine Mercy? Perhaps this week, we can pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. And if we do not know how to do this, there are plenty of resources to help us. Perhaps this week we can reflect on the lives and service of our new Saints, Pope John XXIII and John Paul II. What courageous and powerful witnesses they were, throughout their life and during their papacy. John XXIII who called for Vatican II, asking the Church to put aside a spirit of fear and be a river of mercy. John Paul II, the Pope of almost all of our lives, who gave us this Feast of Divine Mercy and taught us, be not afraid, open wide our doors to Christ. We can know pray to and through these Saints to intercede for us in our many prayer intentions! Catholic overload; there are so many ways to celebrate this second week of Easter! Rejoice and be glad.
Oh, mercy, mercy me. Things certainly ain't what they used to be! For when we trust fully in the Divine Mercy of our Resurrected Lord, we will never have doubts!
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