Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, April 16, 2023 (EPISODE-416 )
Readings for Sunday, April 16, 2023 - Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday
FIRST READING: Acts 2:42-47
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting."
SECOND READING: 1 Pet 1:3-9
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20:29). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
GOSPEL: John 20:19-31
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2125590809. Painting. Jesus Christ and Saint Thomas.- Catholic church. Togo. 06-30-2014 -Important information -Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: godongphoto
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers, and homily), for Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, April 16, 2023, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-2a-second-sunday-of-easter-a-ep-416-pauls-interim-version (EPISODE-416 )
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This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, where we recall the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity.
Speaking of God's divine mercy. God's mercy is more profound than any human mercy or compassion could imagine. We cannot downplay the significance of how different Jesus' reunion with his disciples is after he rose from the dead, from how the expectations of the world might be… After all, Jesus had been betrayed and abandoned by most of his followers and almost all of his disciples. Only a few loyal women stayed with him through it all… his chosen disciples mostly scattered in fear. The one Jesus chose to be the rock on which he would build his church denied him three times. Now he is risen and he returns to meet them… would not one expect (if this were merely an earthly drama), that there would be revenge, retribution, or at least an extended session of guilt trips and finger pointing… But no…. there is not a hint of judgement in our Lord's return…. He does not even punish Thomas for his doubt and his demands before he would believe the news that Our Lord had indeed risen.
Christ meets Thomas where he is. And shows Thomas what he needed to be assured… he shows him his hands and side… That is mercy. That is compassion. It is also service and love. These are God's ways, which are so very different from many of the ways of the world….
In the Easter narratives…. "The risen Jesus is encountered by different disciples in different situations and ways….
• Mary Magdalene recognised the risen Jesus only when he called her by name.
• The two disciples travelling along the road towards Emmaus did not realise WHO this stranger was who walked along with them…. until they saw him break bread ….. and then they realised that their hearts had already been burning with fervour as they had walked along the road….. but they had not recognised the signs of Christ's presence …. But the disciples would get better and better at recognising Christ in the Eucharist… and in the word of God and in the stranger… and in the burning energy of God's good news…
• And then again today; some people do not recognise Jesus until they touch the wounds of the suffering one…..
May we continue to recognise Christ's presence whenever we touch the woundedness of those around us and offer support and strength….
The common interpretation of this scene of St Thomas doubting … is that he doubts that Jesus had been raised from the dead. ……..But if we look at this incident very carefully, it could be argued that, in fact, it is not Jesus whom Thomas doubts, but rather, Thomas is expressing doubt in his fellow disciples. In fact, when Jesus appears to them seven days later, Thomas has the opportunity to share in the experience of the Risen Lord and, like the others, immediately confesses Easter faith.
So, this passage can also be saying….. do not be tempted to doubt the proclamation of the Disciples…. This is the church's constant message throughout its two thousand and more years of history,… that Jesus is truly risen…. Even if we have not seen it for ourselves and touched the very wounds of the risen Christ, … we trust in the testimony of those apostles who did see him and who did touch his hand and side and took broken bread from his hands…. and whose words are written in scripture so that we now share in their message and believe, and also share fully in the life of the risen Lord, that Jesus offers us to us all….
The first reading gives a picture of the early Christian church community as it grows in numbers and strength, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The apostles are doing what Jesus did. Jesus is working in and through them. The first reading mentions that they all met by common agreement, and it illustrates in the first reading some ways in which this Christian community was a powerful source of Christ's healing to those in need.
We need the community…. And we need that important gathering together to unite our hearts and minds to that of Christ and his gospel…. We know implicitly that coming together as the Body of Christ, the church is never an added extra… there is no such thing as a solo Christian… even when we work individually….we are united in a common bond with Christ and one another. The community of disciples, the church, ensures that we are always one in Christ…. And not merely walking to the beat of our own drum………… nor making up our faith as we go.
In a world where individualism is strong and a deeply valued quality….. the idea of being united and focusing on unity (in Christ) whilst at the same time not denying the value of unity in diversity is a careful balancing act, not to be taken lightly…
Jesus wants us to be ONE IN HIM….. he wants to unite us in the communion of his loving relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants us to be united in his belief and experience as the Risen Son of God… who invites us to share in his life and participate in his Kingdom forever.
We pray for the grace to be people of unity and healing…. who constantly act and work in ways that build up unity, and protect against fragmentation…..
We pray for the ability to see and act in ways that put the needs of others up there with our needs….. so that we might see the whole picture of our participation in one big family….. and not just a lifelong 'solo act'.
Thomas, in the gospel, is so inspiring…. he doubted….but he did not leave…. he was still with the disciples the next week….. he struggled…..but the others did not reject him……. and Jesus strengthened him in his struggle and doubts……….. at times in life… we will have doubts and fears…… Jesus shows us all that we are right to trust in his promises, even when we do not always experience the confirmation of the truth of these promises with our own eyes, hands and ears…… Thomas is a gift to us in another way. He shows us that the apostles were not gullible or foolish. What they experienced in the Risen Jesus was the experience of sensible people, just like you and me. Thinking people, who do not easily swallow everything they are told. Still, nevertheless, they truly did experience Jesus risen body and soul, and this is what they have steadfastly passed on to all future generations. This is the testimony of sensible, deep-thinking people who know what they mean and mean what they say.
Today we know that Our Lord is certainly worth trusting in, and all his promises are true….. we can thank Thomas for Jesus confirming that for all future generations…. including us here and now….
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly;
A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY Alice Camille;
Richard J. Leonard;
MONASTERY OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT. ABBOT'S HOMILY
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 2125590809. Painting. Jesus Christ and Saint Thomas.- Catholic church. Togo. 06-30-2014 -Important information -Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor: godongphoto
Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed.
Second Sunday of Easter. Year A. Divine Mercy Sunday (Sunday, April 16, 2023) (EPISODE- 416)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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{{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}}
My brothers and sisters, we have gathered to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, - so let us pause and reflect upon our sins, so as to rejoice in God's loving mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of peace. Lord have mercy// You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. Lord have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting."
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (John 20:29). Alleluia, alleluia! You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me; happy those who have not seen me, but still believe.
Memorial Acclamation
3. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
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PREFACE: Preface I of Easter
Eucharistic Prayer II
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{Thank you for giving generously of your time and prayer.}
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:
"Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly
Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)
Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
- "Today I Arise" - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019.
"Quiet Time." Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020.
Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly.
Microphones: - Shure MV5 Digital Condenser (USB)
Editing equipment: NCH software - MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software
NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 12.44
Sound Processing: iZotope RX 6 Audio Editor
[Production - KER - 2023]
May God bless and keep you.
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