Today, the Second Sunday of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, we celebrate two gifts we have received from our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ; Faith and Mercy. With Faith, we have the ability to recognize the presence of the Risen Christ in our midst. With Mercy, we receive forgiveness and healing.

In the Gospel account, we hear about the encounter of Jesus, after the Resurrection, with his disciples who are gathered in fear; and he offers them the gift of peace and reassurance that he has risen from the dead. We experience the range of emotions from hurt and doubt to the expressions of deep faith and love by Thomas. Jesus offers the gift of peace to each of us and assures us that he is with us today and every day. There may be times when we find it difficult to experience that peace. But let us take Jesus at his word. “Blessed are those who have not seen and believed” (John 20: 29). We will be blessed with peace.

Today is also Divine Mercy Sunday and many of you will pray, as you do every day, the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Part of your prayer will be to say aloud: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” We continue to recognize the offer of God’s forgiveness and healing. Sometimes, because of our guilt, we may lose sight that our loving God always offers us forgiveness and mercy. Again, let us take Jesus at his word as we recall the words of absolution: “God the Father of mercies, through the Death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.” Faith and Mercy lead to hope.

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