2^ND SUNDAY OF EASTER, YR C (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY): REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH 

THEME: THE RECONCILING MERCY OFCHRIST

(John 20:19-31)

Today, the second Sunday of Easter is the Sunday of Divine Mercy. Today, being the eight day after the resurrection of the Lord, we call to mind the great mercy of God even in our unbelief and sinfulness. We have a God who gives us chances, first, second, and more chances. Do we utilize these opportunities?

The Gospel of today shows us manifestations of the mercy of God on the universal Church, in the life of the disciples, of the apostles and even in the life of Thomas the doubter. Jesus comes for you again and again to meet you in your weakness. He comes with peace and the Holy Spirit. He comes with reconciliation.

 

RECONCILES WITH THE RECONCILERS

The disciples had lost their friendship with Christ on account of their betrayal at different levels, disappointments, ingratitude, denials, abandonments, etc. They were filled with guilt, sorrows, shame, fears, troubles, regrets, and feeling that they had failed. They lost their peace of mind. Jesus came in as they shut themselves because of fear of the Jews.

 

Jesus stood

Jesus stood and watched Peter, watched all the apostles, and remembered their involvements in breaking His heart. He watched and saw them feel very sorry. He saw what was lacking in them; peace. They never expected it, but Jesus surprised them with it in His merciful love. He said: Peace be with you. This means: "I have made peace with you on the cross", " I have forgiven you", "We are friends once again", " Let's forget about the past", "Let's move on" 'Udo ka mma' (peace is better). Jesus gave them yet another chance to experience His mercy and compassion.

 

JESUS MAKES THE APOSTLES RECONCILERS

Jesus did not only get reconciled with His apostles He went forward to make them reconcilers. He entrusted the message of reconciliation into their hands. He gives them His Spirit, the Spirit to bind and lose, the power to forgive sins, and even to retain them. He restored the 'Godbreathedness' lost in Adam once more. He breathed upon them and filled them. Thus, the community of the apostles present got both the forgiveness of Christ and the power to forgive.

 

MERCY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL- THOMAS

For some reason, Thomas was absent when Jesus visited the community of the apostles. For that, he doubted and wouldn't believe that Jesus is risen, that He who had these wounds, pains, scars, who died such a shameful death could just come back to easily forgive and restore his betrayers.  He challenged God, and Jesus came just for him. He gave him another chance of seeing Him. He gave him another chance of being forgiven, He gave him another special opportunity of touching Him. And the mercy and love of Christ amazed Him that He concluded that no man can do these. His eyes opened to see the God in Christ, and He proclaimed: My Lord and my God!

 

JESUS COMES TO YOU WITH MERCY

You see, Jesus comes to us with mercy, true love, and compassion. He knows we can't do without it. He knows how weak we are. He knows that we can err. He knows we are human, that we are made from humus, that we are fallible. But He doesn't want us to perish in the dust of sin, of shame, of immorality, of corruption. He raises us in the sacrament of reconciliation, nourishes in communion, and wants us to confess our sins and receive His mercy whenever we fall. He wants to hear us call for mercy. He hears our cry for mercy and heals us when we ask for forgiveness.

 

LET'S BE MERCIFUL

The Lord Jesus wants us to be filled with His mercy and show mercy to others. He wants to live in love. He wants us to forgive one another. Jesus wants us to have mercy on people around us. Jesus wants us to feel with the poor and the needy; those in need of our spiritual gifts, our moral support, our forgiveness, our peace, and our reconciliation.

Let us be merciful like our heavenly Father.

 

LET US PRAY

We ask for your mercy Oh Lord. We can't do without it. Plunge us into the ocean of Your Mercy. Forgive us our sins, help us to take the chances You offer us in the sacrament of reconciliation seriously. Pardon us, Lord, give us Your peace and fill us with Your Spirit, restore to us the joy of our salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Easter/ Divine Mercy Sunday)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh 

 2nd Sunday of Easter, Yr C (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY): Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: The Characteristics of a Community whose Christ is Risen.

Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Rev 1:9-11a,12-13,17-19; Jn 20:19-31

Dear friends, the Church invites us to embrace the qualities of a community that reflects the resurrection of Christ. She encourages us to evolve into a community that embodies forgiveness, love, and care for one another.

Before Christ's death and resurrection, His disciples were much like anyone else, grappling with their own desires and competing for status among themselves. However, the resurrection brought about a profound change in them, transforming them into a model community that inspired admiration from others. Today's first reading reveals how the disciples began to live in harmony in Solomon’s Portico, marked by peace, love, mutual support, and selflessness. They performed many miracles and attracted more people to their fold. The first reading stated, “Many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Portico… the people held them in high honour. And more than ever, believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” We can say that the disciples allowed the power of Christ’s resurrection and the peace offered in today's gospel to transform their lives.

Dear brothers and sisters, as we rejoice in the resurrection of Christ and embrace the peace He has bestowed upon us in today’s gospel, we must reflect on our Christian communities, families, and personal lives. It is evident that we often do not embody the virtues that characterized the early Christian community and the disciples. What could be hindering us? Why do we still witness hatred, injustice, and a lack of compassion for those in need within our communities? Why do our families and relationships still fail to reflect the light of Christ's resurrection? Why do we struggle to cultivate peace, love, and forgiveness in our relationships even when our Christ has risen? Why is our life not drawing others closer to Christ? Why do we continue to live as if Christ has not resurrected?

Today, the Church celebrates the Divine Mercy. As we reflect on God's mercy, the Church tells that the reason why our communities, families, and personal lives often lack the qualities of a community whose Christ has risen is largely because of our inability to follow God's example of mercy, forgiveness and justice. Without forgiveness and mercy, we cannot achieve lasting peace and love. A community devoid of these virtues cannot genuinely be considered Christian.

Our God is a God of mercy, who loved us even in our sinfulness and forgave us unconditionally. He corrects with love, without condemning those who err. However, it seems that many still find it challenging to embrace God's way of dealing with wrongdoers, which is rooted in mercy; instead, they often resort to revenge for the wrongs committed against them, reminiscent of the attitude expressed in Genesis 4:23-24, which said, “I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Christ has blessed u with peace in today’s gospel, but to truly embody the peace of Christ within our communities, families, and relationships, we must love and forgive as God does. Jesus illustrated God's mercy through his teachings, particularly in the parable of the prodigal son, where God is depicted as a Father who eagerly welcomes back his wayward son, offering forgiveness and restoration. This challenges us to reach out to those who have wronged us, to forgive them, and to mend our relationships rather than taking revenge or waiting for them to come begging for our forgiveness. Additionally, in the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus emphasizes that God's desire is for us to forgive unconditionally. God forgives without giving conditions.

Dear friends, true peace cannot flourish without forgiveness; it cannot flourish where there is no mercy. Our community will struggle to be harmonious and loving if we do not extend forgiveness to one another. Let's lead by example, showing the world how to love and forgive, starting with our families and Christian communities. Together, we can transform our Christian communities, families, and relationships into havens of love, compassion, and mutual support. By embodying the teachings of the risen Christ, we can create environments that radiate peace, love, and mutual assistance, and be able to draw others to Christ just as the early Christians did.

Happy Sunday of Divine Mercy

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima