Divine Mercy Sunday
Reflection on Scripture
Today’s Gospel took place within days of the crucifixion. The Apostles, who had not yet received the Holy Spirit, were confused by the events of Good Friday because they did not understand all that Jesus had taught them. In their hearts, they were still looking for a kingdom on earth as well as a kingdom in heaven.
Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the Apostles and was informed by the other Apostles that they had seen the Lord. Thomas did not believe them. If the Lord is truly risen and you have seen Him, how can you not want to tell everyone.
We are more informed than the Apostles were at this stage in their spiritual development. We are Baptized, confirmed, and partake of the great mystery of the Holy Eucharist. We experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the gifts and fruits of the same Spirit.
Yet, with all of these blessings present, each Sunday we gather in the real presence of Jesus in the most blessed sacrament and in His word. We experience Jesus’ present in the hearts of other believers. And still, many, are unmoved and unchanged by these encounters with the living God.
If Thomas walked into our midst today and asked what we were celebrating, we would tell him that we celebrate Jesus Christ crucified, Jesus Christ risen, and Jesus Christ who will come in glory. Then Thomas would look at our actions and see that many are not changed, that many are not more transformed into the very image of Jesus, and many more take all that we do at Mass with indifference.
Jesus obtained an abundance of graces for each of us and offers an invitation to grow into His image and to bring others to salvation. It is true that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The question remains, what do we become when we participate in this Eucharistic? Do our actions speak volumes of our belief and trust in the promises that Jesus made? Do our actions reflect a hunger to grow more in Jesus’ likeness? Do we thirst to see Him face to face? Do we uphold the covenant in believing and living Jesus who has died, who has risen, and who will come again?
Only we can answer these questions. The fact remains that we are given the grace to become what we receive, Eucharist for each other and the world and our mission as church is to bring all people to salvation. The Apostles were awakened on Pentecost, and they left the upper room and went forth giving everything of themselves, including their lives, for the privilege to tell the world in word and action, He has died, He is risen, He will come again.
Deacon Phil