DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE GOD OF ANOTHER CHANCE COMES FOR YOU

(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 have 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 reasons, 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 (Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Divine Mercy Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: The Qualities of a Community Whose Christ Is Risen

Readings: Acts 2:42-47; 1 Pt. 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31

Dear friends, on this Second Sunday of Easter, the Church invites us to embrace the qualities of a community that truly reflects the resurrection of Christ. She challenges us to become a people transformed—people who forgive, who love, and who care for one another.

Before Christ’s death and resurrection, His disciples were much like anyone else, struggling with personal ambitions and competing for status. But the resurrection brought about a profound transformation in them, turning them into a model community that inspired admiration. Today’s first reading shows that the early Christian community began to live a truly communal life—one marked by peace, love, mutual support, and selflessness. It tells us, “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people.”

The disciples allowed themselves to be transformed by the power of Christ’s resurrection and by the gift of peace and mercy He offered them in today’s Gospel. They opened their hearts to the risen Christ, who drove away their selfishness and restored their God‑given nature. In the second reading, St. Peter refers to this transformative power when he says, “By his great mercy, we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Dear brothers and sisters, Christ has risen. We have celebrated His resurrection with joyful Alleluias, and He has blessed us with His peace. Yet, when we look honestly at our families and communities, we notice that we often fall short of the qualities that marked the early Christians. What, then, is our challenge? Why do our communities still reflect hatred, injustice, indifference to the needy, and other unchristian behaviours? Why do our families, relationships, and personal lives not yet radiate the light of Christ’s resurrection? Why do we still lack peace, love, and forgiveness—even though Christ is risen? Why do some still live as though Christ has not risen?

When the disciples allowed the resurrection of Christ to transform them, their community became a place visited frequently by Christ, as we saw in today’s Gospel. Their virtues made their community attractive to the Lord.

Dear friends, if we want our lives, families, and communities to attract the constant presence of Christ, we must embrace the same qualities that shaped the early Christian community.

Today, the Church also presents us with another powerful path: the way of Mercy. This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday—a day to contemplate the boundless mercy of God toward us, His creatures. Our God is merciful: He loved us even while we were sinners; He forgave us without conditions; He corrects with love and without condemning the offender.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus appeared to His disciples, offering them peace and breathing upon them the Spirit of Mercy. He forgave those who abandoned Him in His suffering and entrusted them—and us—with the mission of reconciliation through mercy.

If you want your life to attract the presence of Christ, you must embrace God’s mercy: by turning away from sin, by drinking deeply from the ocean of His mercy, and by extending mercy to those who have offended you. You must be as merciful as the Father. If you want your family to be a place visited regularly by Christ, it must be a home built on peace, mercy, and forgiveness. Christ does not dwell in a heart filled with vengeance or evil intentions; nor does He dwell in a family where conflict reigns and love is absent. Without forgiveness and mercy, there can be no lasting peace or love. A community or family without peace and love cannot truly be called Christian.

Therefore, let us allow our lives and families to be recreated by the power of Christ’s resurrection. Let us make our Christian communities, families, and relationships places of love, mercy, and mutual support. When our homes and communities radiate peace, love, and generosity, our lives will attract the presence of Christ—just as the early Christians attracted the presence of the risen Lord.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

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

 

2^nd Sunday of Easter, Yr B: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: The Qualities of a Community whose Christ is risen.

Readings: Acts 4:32-35; 1Jn 5:1-6; Jn 20:19-31

Dear friends, the church invites us to learn the qualities of a community whose Christ has risen from the dead. She also challenges us to be transformed into a community that forgives, loves and cares for its members.

Before the death and resurrection of Christ, the disciples of Jesus lived like every other person, with their daily selfish passions and struggles for who will be the greatest among them and who will sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in His glory. But the resurrection of Christ made a positive impact on this community of disciples. It transformed them into a community that became a model of a good community, a community that was admired by other people. From the first reading of today, we learnt that the community of disciples began to live a communal life, a life characterized by peace, love, mutual help, and unselfishness. The reading said: “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common… There was not a needy person among them, for those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” We can say that they allowed themselves to be transformed by the power of the resurrection of Christ and by the gift of peace given them in the gospel of today.

Dear brothers and sister, our Christ has resurrected, and He has also blessed us with the gift of peace. However, taking a sincere look at our own Christian community of today, one would notice that it falls short of the qualities that the early Christian community possessed. What, then, is our problem? Why is our community still reflecting hatred, injustice, lack of help for the needy, and other unchristian behaviors? Why are our families, our relationships, and our individual lives yet to reflect the light of the resurrection of Christ? Why are we still lacking peace, love and forgiveness in our relationships with others even when our Christ has resurrected? Why do we still live as if our Christ has not risen from the dead?

Today, the church celebrates the Divine Mercy. As we recall the Mercy of our God, the church gives us one of the reasons why our communities, our families and our individual lives are not yet manifesting some qualities of a community whose Christ is risen. She tells us that the reason is because we are yet to emulate God’s pattern of mercy and justice. Without forgiveness and mercy, there will not be lasting peace and love. A community without peace and love cannot really be called Christian.

Our God is a merciful God, a God who loved us even while we were still sinners, a God who forgave us without conditions. He is a God who corrects with love and without condemning the offender. From every indication, many people are still finding it difficult to adopt God’s pattern of mercy and treating of offenders. They are rather comfortable with a pattern founded on revenge for wrongs committed against them, the type of treatment written in Genesis 4: 23-24 (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).

To experience the presence of peace of Christ in our communities, families and other relationships, we must love as our God loves, and forgive as our God forgives. The pattern of God’s mercy was shown by Christ in his teachings, especially in two of his parables. The first was in the parable of the prodigal son. In this parable, God was shown as a Father who went out to meet the son who offended him, to embrace him, to forgive him and to restore him to his lost glory. This challenges us to go out and encounter those who have offended us, to forgive them and take them back. Don’t sit in your comfort and wait for those who offended you to come and ask for forgiveness, and don’t let their offences fracture your relationship with them. Go out in search of them today. The second was in the parable of the unforgiving servant. This parable teaches us that God wants us to forgive offenders without giving conditions to them. Often, we demand conditions before forgiving offenders; this is not the pattern of God’s mercy towards us. God’s pattern is that He forgives without giving us conditions.

Dear friends, Peace cannot bear fruits where there is no forgiveness. Our community cannot be lovely and peaceful if we don’t forgive each other. The second reading tells us that we have conquered the world by our faith. Let us, therefore, witness to this victory through the way we love, help, and forgive one another; this is our faith. Let us teach the world how to love and how to forgive, beginning from our families and Christian communities. Let us make our Christian communities, families and relationships abodes of love, mercy, and mutual help. Let us make our Christian communities to testify to the power of the risen Christ. When our families, communities and relationships reflect peace, love, and mutual help, our lives will be able to attract the presence of Christ, just as the early Christians attracted the presence of the risen Christ in the gospel of today.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

PUSC, Roma

 

2^nd Sunday of Easter, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: THE GOD OF ANOTHER CHANCE COMES FOR YOU (Divine Mercy Sunday)

(John 20:19-31)

Today, the second Sunday of Easter is the Sunday of Divine Mercy.

Today, being the eighth 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 'God breathedness' 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 reasons, 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.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

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, and 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 (Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER, YR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: LIVING AND SHARING IN THE MERCY OF GOD

INTRODUCTION:

Today being the second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy of God which we are all living in and sharing in. And as such, we cannot live in denial of his mercies. The whole commemoration of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, is a commemoration of what Jesus has shared with us; his self-donation (his life) and his merciful love, by which we are now adopted, sanctified, forgiven and redeemed children of God. Our command, mandate and simple challenge today is to also mercifully share ourselves, our life, our love, and our goods with everyone around us.

 

THE FIRST READING (ACTS. 4: 32 – 35)

In the first reading of today, we read about the first company of believers who adapted immediately to living and sharing in mercy of God, they learnt to possess and share everything in common and to live to share with others, their earthly goods. Jesus came that we may have a share in his divine nature and heavenly riches/possessions. What we do not possess before, we now possess and share through Jesus Christ; that is, eternal life. We must practically learn to share with others every good we possess which they do not yet possess; be it faith, the gospel message, or anything God has blessed us with.

 

THE SECOND READING (1 JN. 5: 1 – 7)

In the second reading, we are meant to understand that living and sharing in the mercy of God with others is not just an option for all believers in God, but a command and rule of life that they must obey. If we believe in God, love God, and are born of God, we must keep his commandments which center on “love of one another”. When you love one another, you would be merciful and charitable enough to let others have a share in your earthly goods and blessings.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 20: 19 – 31)

In the gospel reading after Jesus had earlier shared with his apostles his own life, time, gospel, office/mission, and all heavenly secrets as he has heard from the Father, He went ahead today to share with them his office or throne of mercy. He sent them, as the Father sent him, and gave them the authority to forgive sins at the sacrament of penance. What we call presidential pardon today, Jesus leveraged and made easily accessible for us through his bishops and priests. Simply put, he made mercy and pardon readily available to the most common of men, and we are all living and sharing in it.

 

CONCLUSION

Brethren, it is barbaric when we receive forgiveness, but cannot forgive others; when we receive mercy and cannot be merciful ourselves. We cannot be living by the mercy of God, living in the mercy of God and yet we cannot share that mercy with others. Whatever we are now or possess now, it is by the grace and mercy of God, says St. Paul. (cf. 1 Cor. 15: 10). Like the first believers today, we must learn to share those physical or spiritual goods which we have mercifully and graciously received from our heavenly Father. God allowed us to live and share in his mercy, we must also allow others to live and share in our mercy.

Happy Sunday!

Be Merciful and sharing like the Father!

Fr. Justin