Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, (EPISODE: 472)
Image: Painting by Rodney Anthony – Gold Coast – 2024.
Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday -
(EPISODE:472)
Readings for Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday
FIRST READING: Acts 4: 32-35
Ps 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24. "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting."
SECOND READING: 1 John 5: 1-6
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
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Please listen to the audio recordings of the Mass – (Readings, prayers and homily), for the Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy Sunday - Sunday, April 11, 2021, by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-second-sunday-of-easter-and-of-divine-mercy-year-b-episode-472
(EPISODE:472 )
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* (Prologue: Fr Paul Kelly)
This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, where we recall the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity.
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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This weekend is Divine Mercy Sunday, and we recall on this Sunday the absolute mercy and love that Jesus has for all humanity. The world desperately needs to deepen its understanding and its experience of the depth and breadth of God's Divine Mercy and love for us, and for all the world. It is at the heart of God's nature, and at the heart of God's relationship with us, who are His beloved people, His sons and daughters.
We see our Lord's mercy and love at work in the Gospel this weekend. Thomas doubted, but our Lord did not punish him for his lack of faith. He instead sees deep into Thomas' heart, and sees the dedication of Thomas, his goodness of heart, the pain and loss and crushed hopes that caused Thomas to "not dare to believe" that the Lord could be risen as has been said.
Jesus meets Thomas where he is at, and leads him to see and believe, and this compassion, this love and mercy produce such astounding fruits. For Thomas, who so recently couldn't even bring himself to accept this wonderful news, is now the first to declare the complete truth of Christ's identity. He is not only our Lord, but He is our God. "My Lord and my God."
Today in the Gospel, the Risen Lord twice says these beautiful words, Peace be with you.
Jesus is offering us true peace, and it's something we desire very deeply. The world is crying out for this deep and abiding peace that only God can give us.
Jesus appears to His disciples to reassure them of the reality of the forgiveness that He has indeed won for us by His death and resurrection.
We can truly be at peace and trust in God's promise that He does indeed desire to free us from our burdens and forgive us our sins. This is a real promise, and it's God's deepest desire. Our Lord of astounding mercy does not want us to continue to be bowed down and burdened by our sins or past mistakes.
God doesn't want us to be stuck in our mistakes and sins, as we would surely be forever if not for His gracious, overwhelming compassion and mercy. His is a message of enormous hope. He implores us, doubt no longer, but believe.
Don't doubt in my love. Don't doubt in my desire to forgive you, and my ability to forgive you entirely. Believe that I do offer you the means and the real and lasting effect of my mercy, and my peace!
Jesus gently and lovingly chides Thomas. Jesus gently chides and invites us too.
"Do you doubt in my mercy? Are you actually daring to think yourself unforgivable and unforgiven when I have declared you absolved? Happy indeed are those who believe."
Also, the Gospel today ends with the writer of St. John saying, There are many things that happened in relation to Jesus, but they're not all written here. We, these many, many centuries after Jesus walked the earth, we too are witnesses to what Jesus continues to do in our world, even to this day.
We're called to be ministers of mercy, instruments of Christ's peace, agents of God's reconciliation and ministers of grace, ambassadors of Christ's love.
The importance of community cannot be understated either. In the first reading we hear of an ideal community.
The disciples pray together, they learn together, they share their resources, they help and support one another, especially those who are doing it tough. Our faith community exists so that we might assist and build up and strengthen each other, especially our brothers and sisters who are really struggling. Our Lord calls us to be a community of disciples, looking outward towards the world and ready to make a practical difference for others and for the good.
Our faith tradition tells us that to understand and believe in Christ, we must read the scriptures and meditate on them. We must also come to know other believers and listen to each other's experience with our hearts and minds open. Christianity is a religion that preaches Jesus crucified and risen, and still active in the community in and through those who believe in him.
Today, let us ask St Thomas to intercede for us, that we can believe more deeply in the great mystery of salvation. Let us be patient with our doubts and keep looking for the truth of Christ's presence amid the everyday events and people of our lives. Most of all, let's rejoice in the Lord who loves us so deeply and forgives our sins and invites us into deeper understanding of his mysteries.
May we continue to be built up by the risen Christ to be disciples who rejoice in being a community for the good of each other and the common good of all people. We are ministers of Jesus' graciousness and care. Jesus brings us peace, and having given us the gift of peace, he immediately commissions us and sends us out to put his message into action by acts of charity, love and support for everyone we meet.
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References:
Homily –Fr Paul W. Kelly
Image: Painting by Rodney Anthony – Gold Coast – 2024.
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Second Sunday of Easter. Year B. Divine Mercy (EPISODE:472 )
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (or/ The Lord be with You)
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{{peace and compassion to you }} welcome everyone, we gather - Reflection upon God's word, and encounter Christ's presence.
My friends in Christ, to worthily celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us first acknowledge our sins.
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life: Lord, have mercy// //Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins: Christ, have mercy//Lord Jesus, you feed us with your body and blood: 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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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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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.
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PREFACE: Easter I
EP II
(theme variation: 4 )
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{Many thanks for participating in this time of praise, worship and reflection upon our God's infinite love.}
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
To listen to our weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks
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" (Easter Theme) - - 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.
[ Production - KER - 2024]
May God bless and keep you.
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