Divine Mercy Sunday / Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
As almost always in the Easter season, the Acts of the Apostles furnishes the first reading for Mass this weekend.
Acts claims to be, and scholars assume it indeed to be, the work of the evangelist who wrote St. Luke’s Gospel. Acts, therefore, may properly be seen as a continuation of the story presented in Luke, which closes with the Ascension of Jesus. Acts then begins at this point.
As it progresses, Acts traces for some years the development of the infant Church, describing the plight of its first members. In so doing, it provides a fascinating insight into the formation of the Church’s structure, as well as a powerful lesson in the basic beliefs that so compelled absolute loyalty and devotion from the early Christians whom Acts praises.
It also gives great examples of unqualified selfishness, human ignorance, treachery and the idea that might makes right.
In this weekend’s reading, Acts presents the first members of the Church as being “of one heart and one mind” (Acts 4:32). Love for and adherence to the Lord were supreme for them.
Central in the story were the Apostles, the Lord’s special followers and students, whom Jesus commissioned to continue the work of salvation. The Apostles literally had seen the risen Lord, so the first Christians revered them.
Love for others in the model of Jesus was more than a platitude. The early Christians assisted the poor, so much so that they sold their property to obtain funds to assist the needy.
St. John’s First Epistle supplies the second reading, defining what being a Christian means.
Each believer must give her or his self fully in love to God through trust and faith in Jesus. Because of this commitment and because of the Lord’s redeeming acts in Christ, each Christian is a child of God. This term means much more than merely earthly creation. It means eternal life.
Baptism symbolizes and brings about this absolute commitment.
The Gospel reading for this weekend is from St. John’s Gospel. It is a resurrection narrative, a story with which most Christians are quite familiar. Recall the dismay among the followers of Jesus when they found the empty tomb? Where had the body of the Lord been taken?
This reading answers the question. The body of the Lord has not been hidden. Jesus lives! The encounter with the doubting, demanding Thomas affirms this glorious fact.
Resurrection from the dead is stunning, but Jesus further acts as God by conferring the very power of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. He grants them the authority of forgiving sins, a divine privilege as sins affront God. He sends them to the four corners of the world to bring redemption to all humanity.
Passing through locked doors as through thin air, Jesus greeted the Apostles with “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19). He makes clear that peace only is in God. The living Lord is the sole source of peace.
Reflection
Sadly, Ukrainians this year likely modified their historic celebration of Easter, due to the war. But here and there, the traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs might have been seen, reminders of an ancient faith.
These eggs, the more elaborately decorated the better, represent the tomb in which the crucified body of Jesus lay. It was a blessed place since, from it, Jesus triumphantly rose.
Distancing from, indifference to and certainly outright rebellion against Jesus make our lives tombs, cold and dark.
We observe Divine Mercy Sunday on this weekend. In and through Jesus, the Son of God, divine mercy is with us, strengthening, restoring, empowering, healing and freeing us, opening the sealed doors of the tombs in which we lay. Come forth! Live in the peace of Christ! †