Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday

Homily April 19, 2009

Based on Gospel of John 20:19-31
& Divine Mercy Sunday

Who among us has never uttered these phrases: “I have my doubts” or “I doubt it”?

Let me share two examples with you. In 1980 I tuned in to watch a little Winter Olympics on TV. The big event that day was a hockey game between a young inexperienced American squad and the highly regarded Soviet national team. The Americans were made up of young college kids with no international experience. The Soviets were highly skilled, experienced athletes, with many years together and plenty of international games under their belt. Needless to say, the Soviets were heavy favorites. In fact, just two weeks earlier, in an exhibition, the Soviets handily defeated the upstart Americans, 10-3; that’s like 80-0 in football!

So, I, and many, many others watched as the game began, having our collective doubts. We all know what happened; playing like they had never played before, the Americans stunned the sports world with a 4-3 victory. Do you believe in miracles?

Fast forward some 29 years to our present time and let’s talk about Susan Boyle. Susan has the most popular video on the internet right now of a stunning performance from a TV reality show in Britain. You see, Susan, unlike all the “serious” contestants is middle aged, unspectacular in appearance and admitted beforehand an unassuming life, a simple humble life of caring for aging, ill parents. Her dedication to her parents resulted in few friends, no opportunity for a relationship, in fact
she admits she has never been kissed, and unemployment from putting her parents first.

The video is stunning. Why? In part, because at first, the judges, staff and audience are making fun of her, her looks and her life story. They are expressing their doubts, in words and actions directly to her face. Susan just stands there and politely takes it.
When she announces she is going to sing a beautiful song, I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, everyone laughed. I guess they had their doubts.

Susan’s musical rendition was stunning. An audience, laughing and mocking her, is now on their feet, cheering. The judges are stunned, some in tears. I must admit, as I watched the video, it had an impact on me.

Doubt, in both these examples, was transformed into joy, happiness, even faith.

So, I ask this morning, do we still have our doubts about our faith? Do we still doubt the Divine Mercy of our Resurrected Lord? Are we a “doubting Thomas” and if so, is that necessarily all bad?

This reading from John is given to us by the Church, every year on this day, the 2nd Sunday of Easter and what we now know as the Feast of Divine Mercy. How appropriate. The Gospel is really in two parts; the Easter evening appearance of Jesus to the 10 apostles gathered there and Jesus returning a week later when he meets up with Thomas. Let’s focus on the latter first.

Thomas has boldly declared earlier in the week that unless he see and touch the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side he would not believe that He was risen. He had his doubts! At first read, this almost comes across as a negative when we think about Thomas. But remember, he was simply not present the week before. Perhaps the other Apostles wanted to see His hand and side too. The Gospels don’t record this. Thomas wanted proof. And Jesus knew this, and again, as He so often did and still does, He humbled Himself, complied with Thomas’ request and helped him to believe. And believe he did; Thomas declares: my Lord and my God!!!

On second read, this does not seem so negative now. His doubts reveal a certain honesty; I just want to be sure! Thomas allowed his doubt to surrender completely to faith. And his faith leads to joy and happiness.

What does this mean to us on this Easter Octave? Do we have doubts? Do we see Jesus every time we come to Mass and witness, with our own eyes, the consecration of bread and wine? When the bread and wine are lifted high, when the bells ring behind the altar, do we see Jesus and do we declare: “my Lord and my God.” Do we trust the great gift Jesus left us, the Church? Do we understand the role of the Magisterium, our beloved Pope in union with the college of Bishops, who guide and teach us how to grow in faith? And if we do have these doubts, will we be open to allow Jesus to come to us, like He came to Thomas and helped his unbelief. Are our doubts a result of our pride and stubbornness or can they, like Thomas, be a path to a deeper, more intimate personal relationship with Him.

In the first part of the Gospel, we read of the Easter night scene of Jesus, with the 10, as Jesus breathes on them and gives them the power to remit or retain sin. Why does Jesus breathe on them? Remember the creation story, Genesis, when God created man, He breathed on His creation. He gave them His Spirit. On Easter night, Jesus breathes on the Apostles, he brings alive the New Creation, He gives them His Spirit.

And what is at the center of this New Creation; it is the forgiveness of sin; it is His Divine Mercy!!! And we realize that it is Jesus who forgives sin, it is Jesus who dispenses mercy. But we read right here in John, that it is through his Apostles that the message of mercy goes forth and it is through the Apostles that Jesus forgives sin. If we are to believe all that Jesus said and did, then we are to believe, all these years later, that Jesus still forgives sins and still dispenses mercy. But if we fall prey to the beliefs not contained in the teaching of our church, then this mercy and forgiveness would have died with the death of the last Apostle. Where would be hope? How desperate would be our doubt?

But we know that Jesus gave us apostolic succession, and through the centuries raises up Bishops and Priests, who in the faith tradition of the Apostles, and the Sacrament of Confession and Anointing of the Sick, forgive sins, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And we receive His mercy; for His mercy endures forever.

And on this great feast of Divine Mercy, He gives us the Apostle of Mercy, Saint Faustina Kowalska who revealed Divine Mercy to the world. It was our great Pope, John Paul II who embraced this message of mercy, declared this 2nd Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday and canonized Faustina. For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!

An ice hockey game and a reality TV internet sensation allowed me to see doubt transform into faith, happiness and joy!

In our Risen Lord, in His Body & Blood, in His sacraments, yes, in the teaching authority of the Church, our doubt fades into joyful belief as we confidently proclaim:

“Jesus, I trust in you!” No doubt about it!!!