DAILY- HOMILY

April 23, 2017 - 2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER 

Divine Mercy Sunday 

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Acts 2: 42- 47 / 1 Pt 1: 3- 9 / Jn 20: 19- 31

     Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter Sunday. Rooted in Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy and the revelations of our Lord to St. Mary Faustina Kowalska (1905 -1938), Pope St. John Paul II (1920- 2005) established this Sunday of Divine Mercy at the canonization of St. Mary Faustina on 20 April 2000.

FROM THE 1ST READING:     Acts 2: 42- 43

     They were faithful to the teaching of the apostles, the common life of sharing, the breaking of bread and prayers. A holy fear came upon all the people, for many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

FROM THE 2ND READING:     1 Pt 1: 3- 5

     Let us praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for his great mercy. In raising Jesus Christ from the dead he has given us new life and a living hope. The inheritance that does not corrupt nor goes bad nor passes away was reserved to you in heaven, since God's power shall keep you faithful until salvation is revealed in the last days.

FROM THE GOSPEL READING:     Jn 20: 26- 29

     Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord," But he replied, "Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

     Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." The he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Don't be an unbeliever! Believe."

     Thomas then said, "You are my Lord and my God." Jesus replied, "You believe because you see me, don't you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe."

REFLECTION

     Fear is a powerful human emotion to protect us from harm and works as a tool for self-preservation. There are various fears we face in our lives: of sickness and of dying, of failure and perhaps losing one's livelihood, of loss of a loved one, of some danger.

     So we can understand the predicament of the disciples of Jesus gathered behind locked doors after his seeming total defeat and crucifixion. The Jewish leaders might go after his followers.

     Today's Gospel reading tells us about two appearances of the risen Jesus to his disciples: on the evening of Easter and of the week after. Jesus reassures them that he has risen; Jesus shares his peace and the Holy Spirit with them, "Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained"

     The appearance of the risen Jesus gave them assurance that he was alive. Their fear and doubts were then baseless.

     The apostle Thomas was not present on Easter evening and he insisted he would not believe until he himself saw and touched the Lord.

      At the second appearance a week later, in his mercy and kindness, Jesus solved the doubts of Thomas. And Thomas affirmed his faith in Jesus, "You are my Lord and my God." Chiding the doubtful Thomas, Jesus spoke to all of us, "Happy are those who have not seen and believe."

     Today when we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday we praise and glorify God who sent his only-begotten Son to free us from our sins and to bring us to his Father. Unlike Thomas, we profess our faith in him, "though we have not seen." We celebrate the Eucharist with hopeful and joyful hearts because Christ is risen and sits at God's right hand for us. We sing hymns of joy to the Father of mercy who loves, forgives and guides us always.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CAROL CHUA

     CHARLA LARRAINE TSOI

     DEBORAH FAINSAN 

     ELENA SALAZAR 

     KATRINA BIANCA DYSIY

     TEODORO V. CALAUNAN JR.

THANKSGIVING

     GILBERT, CATHY, ANGELICA & CHRISTINE YANG

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     ROSITA YU LEE

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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