Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Lectionary: 43
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Lectionary: 43
They devoted
themselves
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone,
and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their property and possessions
and divide them among all according to each one’s need.
Every day they devoted themselves
to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life,
to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone,
and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
All who believed were together and had all things in common;
they would sell their property and possessions
and divide them among all according to each one’s need.
Every day they devoted themselves
to meeting together in the temple area
and to breaking bread in their homes.
They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart,
praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.
And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Responsorial Psalm PS 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
R/ (1) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his
love is everlasting.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R/ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
Reading 2 1 PT 1:3-9
Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Gospel JN 20:19-31
On the evening of
that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Scripture Study – Apr.
27, 2014
April 27, 2014 Second
Sunday of Easter
Happy Easter! Yes it is still Easter. After
spending 40 days of Lent preparing ourselves for Easter we spend the 50 days of
the Easter Season celebrating the core event of our faith. During this time the
readings tell us about the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to the
disciples and what those appearances mean to us as followers of the “Risen
One.” This Sunday the Church celebrates the Octave Day of Easter also called
the Second Sunday of Easter. The readings for this Sunday deal with the person
of our resurrected Savior and His presence in the community of His followers.
His presence is just as real and as full wherever His followers gather now as
it was when they gathered in Jerusalem and Galilee two thousand years ago. This
should be the source of great comfort to us. No matter what life throws at us,
Our Lord is alive, not just in a far off Heaven but right here with us just as
He was with the disciples so long ago.
First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles
and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were
done through the apostles. 44 All who believed
were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide
them among all according to each one’s need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in
the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with
exultation and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and
enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their
number those who were being saved.
NOTES on First Reading:
This is the first and the most comprehensive
of the three major summaries given in Acts. The other two are 4:32-37, and
5:12-16. All of the summaries are idealized and express a sense of the
community being graced by God.
The summaries are not just transitions between
events they also serve the function of outlining the characteristics of the
Jerusalem community of believers. Among these characteristics are: the central
place of the Eucharistic liturgy in the religious life of the community the
faithfulness of the community to the teachings of the twelve the use of a
system of distribution of goods that led wealthy members to sell their
possessions when needed to support the community’s poor continued attendance at
the temple. The original Christians had no thought of separating themselves
from their Jewish past.
Luke and Acts (same author) has continuity of
the New Covenant with the Old Covenant and continuity of the church’s teaching
with that of the Twelve and with Jesus’ teaching as main themes.
“Breaking of the bread” is a technical term in
Luke-Acts referring to the Eucharist. (See Luke 9:11-27;22:14-38;24:35)
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for you 5 who by the power
of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be
revealed in the final time. 6 In this you
rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various
trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may
prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though
you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable
and glorious joy, 9 as you attain the goal of (your) faith,
the salvation of your souls.
NOTES on Second Reading:
Verses 3-5 are prayers of praise and
thanksgiving beginning with a variation of a very common introductory formula
in Jewish prayer. See Gen 9:26 and Psalm 66:20.
The reference, in verse 3, to “the Father of
Our Lord Jesus” is probably meant to indicate that God is not distant which had
been one of the key messages of Jesus. The new birth is a radical new start
provided by God as one of the consequences that Jesus’ resurrection has for us.
God is revealed and does all things through His Son. The word, “inheritance,”
(4) is used in the Old Testament for the land of Canaan given to Israel by God,
“the promised land.” Here the reference is to God’s promise to Israel fulfilled
in the Church. The word translated as “imperishable,” means that but it also
carries the idea of remaining “unconquered or unravaged by any invading army.”
What is it that we might have that is “unfading?” –Only God Himself! See Ps
16:5; 73:23-26; Lam 3:24.
The word, “faith” (5) is used in varied ways
in 1 Peter. Here it means faith in the sense of trust in God. The word
(~phrourein~) translated as safeguard means, “protect or keep with a garrison.”
The salvation spoken of was eschatological
salvation which the early Christians believed to be imminent. They had several
beliefs about the last days: that they were already living in the last days.
God had already invaded time. that the Spirit would be poured out in the last
days. that before the end, evil would make a last assault with false teachers.
that in the last days, the dead would be resurrected. that the last days would
bring a time of justice at God’s judgment.
Much of the point of verses 6 through 9 is
that as the glory of Christ’s resurrection was preceded by suffering so the new
life it gives is subject to trial even while achieving its goal. In verse 6,
the antecedent of the pronoun, “this,” is the entire thought of the previous
statement. Paul goes on to give three reasons for our being able to carry on no
matter what evil comes our way: We are full of joy in our inheritance. It is a
trial, a test which will leave us stronger. The genuineness of our faith will
be to the honor and praise and glory of God at the return of Jesus.
The suffering that is mentioned was mainly a
social dislocation in a pagan world which is being likened to the suffering of
Christ. At this time the serious more organized persecutions were still in the
future. The term, “poikilon,” translated as “various” literally means “many
colored.” The only other use of this word in the New Testament is in 1 Peter
4:10 where it describes God’s grace.
Gospel Reading: John 20: 19-31
20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the
doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came
and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20:20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his
side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 20:21 (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the
Father has sent me, so I send you.” 20:22 And when he had
said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 20:23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins
you retain are retained.”
20:24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with
them when Jesus came. 20:25 So the other disciples said to him, “We
have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails
in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his
side, I will not believe.” 20:26 Now a week later
his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although
the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my
hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving,
but believe.” 20:28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My
Lord and my God!” 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to
believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have
believed.”
20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his)
disciples that are not written in this book. 20:31 But these are written that you may (come to) believe that
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have
life in his name.
NOTES on Gospel:
The appearances to the disciples, without or
with Thomas (John 11:16; 14:5), have rough parallels in the other gospels only
for John 20:19-23; see Luke 24:36-39; Mark 16:14-18. Implicitly from John 20:24
“the disciples” means ten of the Twelve, presumably in Jerusalem. “Peace be
with you” echoes John 14:27. The theme of rejoicing in John 20:20 echoes John
16:22.
John 20:20 differs from Luke 24:39-40 which
mentions “hands and feet,” based on Psalm 22:17.
Though John does not use the noun in reference
to them, verse 21 is where the Eleven really become Apostles (“those sent”);
see John 17:18. Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, and Mark 16:15 also make a solemn
mission or “sending” the subject of the post-resurrection appearances to the
Eleven.
The action in verse 22 echoes Genesis 2:7,
where God breathed on the first man and gave him life. Just as Adam’s life came
from God, so now the disciples’ new spiritual life comes from Jesus. They are
new creations in this Spirit of Jesus. See also the revivification of the dry bones
in Ezekiel 37. This event is John’s version of Pentecost. The apostles did
truly receive the Holy Spirit at this time although the gifts of the Holy
Spirit were not manifested until Pentecost.
In verse 23, Jesus gives his apostles the task
of continuing His ministry of reconciliation. They are charged with the task of
forgiving sins as He had done during His ministry. This was defined by the
Council of Trent as a scriptural basis for the sacrament of Penance. See also
Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18.
The words (28), “My Lord and my God”, form a
literary inclusion with the first verse of the gospel, “and the Word was God.”
Verse 29 is a beatitude on future generations.
Jesus tells us that faith, not sight, matters.
Verse 30-31 are clearly a conclusion to the
gospel and express its purpose. Many manuscripts read, “come to believe,”
possibly implying a missionary purpose for John’s gospel but a small number of
quite early ones read, “continue to believe,” which many scholars suggest,
indicates that the audience consists of Christians whose faith was to be
deepened by the book. See also John 19:35.
Meditation: "Unless I see - I will not
believe"
Do you know the joy of the resurrection? The
Risen Lord Jesus revealed the glory of his resurrection to his disciples
gradually and over a period of time. Even after the apostles saw the empty tomb
and heard the reports of Jesus' appearance to the women, they were still weak
in faith and fearful of being arrested by the Jewish authorities. When Jesus
appeared to them he offered proofs of his resurrection by showing them the
wounds of his passion, his pierced hands and side. He calmed their fears and
brought them peace, the peace which reconciles sinners and makes us friends of
God.
Jesus did something which only love and trust
can do. He commissioned his weak and timid apostles to bring the good news of
the Gospel to the ends of the earth. This sending out of the disciples is
parallel to the sending out of Jesus by his heavenly Father. Jesus fulfilled
his mission through his perfect love and obedience to the will of his Father.
He called his first disciples and he now calls each one of us to do the
same. Just as he gave his first disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit, so he
breathes on each of us the same Holy Spirit who equips us with new life, power,
joy, and courage to live each day as followers of the Risen Lord.
The last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord
was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. The apostle Thomas
was a natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after
receiving news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: "Let
us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). While Thomas
deeply loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion
and crucifixion. After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing
from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his
time of trial and adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus
and he doubted his own fellow apostles.
When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin
the other apostles, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured
him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized
his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God!
Through the gift of faith we, too, proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and
our God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord
offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally
and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you
believe in the good news of the Gospel and in the power of the Holy Spirit to
bring you new life, hope, and joy?
"Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory
over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of sin and darkness. Help
me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your
Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith in your promises and my hope in the power
of your resurrection."
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The
Limit of Evil
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Second Sunday of
Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday
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John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the
week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the
Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be
with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again,
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And
when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive
the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you
retain are retained." Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not
with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have
seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the
nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into
his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again
inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he
said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your
hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas
answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him,
"Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those
who have not seen and have believed." Now Jesus did many other signs in
the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these
are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in your grace and your
love for me. This is why I come before you now. I know that through
this meditation I can experience your love and be filled with your grace, so
that I might fulfill my role in your plan of salvation. You know that I am
weak and am sometimes tempted to lose heart. But I know I can count on your
generous graces to bolster my courage and love. For my part, I will strive to
spend this time with you well.
Petition: Jesus Christ, let me know your heart.
1. Touch His Heart: In this passage, Christ puts himself within
touching distance of Thomas’ finger and hand. He invites this apostle,
struggling with doubt, to reach into his side and come into contact with that
Sacred Heart, filled to the brim with mercy. Not only could there no longer
be any doubt about the Savior’s resurrected body, there also could no longer
be any doubt about his mercy which he promised in the
forgiveness of sins. With Thomas, then, let us come within touching distance
of this heart of Christ and peer through his open side to see the heart that
so loves all souls.
2. Allowing Him Touch My Heart: Not only do we want to touch Christ’s heart,
we also want to invite the Lord to touch our hearts. Just
like the lepers who presented their disfigured flesh for Christ to touch and
cure, so we present our disfigured souls, asking him to touch and to cure.
Saint Faustina would say that all that is necessary is for us to leave the
door of our heart ajar and God will do the rest. Let us present to his
“sacred finger” what in us needs to be touched by his grace, especially
through the sacrament of reconciliation.
3. Thirsting for All Hearts: In Christ, the greatest thirsting love is
too often met by the most outrageous ingratitude and affront on the part of
souls. The Sacred Heart made mention of this in the pangs of his heart voiced
to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. He explained to her that his sharpest pain was
due to people’s ingratitude. Let us endeavor to bring his thirsting heart
into contact with souls, though our prayers, sacrifices and apostolic
efforts.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for the example of
love and mercy you give us through your appearance to the disciples and your
kindness to St. Thomas. May my heart always be full of gratitude and remain
close to your loving, merciful touch.
Resolution: I will pray that someone I know may
experience God’s mercy in the sacrament of confession. If possible, I will
help someone directly to make this happen.
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SOLEMNITY OF THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY, APRIL 27, JOHN 20:19-31
(Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9)
SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY, APRIL 27, JOHN 20:19-31
(Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1 Peter 1:3-9)
KEY VERSE: "Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed" (v 29).
READING: On the evening of the resurrection, the disciples were gathered in fear behind locked doors. They were overjoyed when the Risen Lord appeared in their midst with a greeting of "peace" (Hebrew, Shalom). Just as God breathed life into Adam, the first living being (Gn 2:7), the Son of God breathed the life-giving Spirit upon his disciples, sending them forth with the power to forgive sins. Thomas was absent on this occasion and he refused to believe their testimony. His defiant words "unless I see" (v 25) came from one who knew Jesus as an intimate friend. A week later, the Risen Christ appeared again, and this time Thomas was present. When Thomas touched Christ's wounds, he declared Jesus to be his "Lord and God." Jesus told Thomas that those who believed in faith were more blessed than those who needed visible proof.
REFLECTING: Do I try to make peace by forgiving the sins committed against me?
PRAYING: My Lord and my God, help me to believe when my faith wavers.
POPE
JOHN XIII AND POPE JOHN PAUL II CANONIZED
Pope Francis canonized two of his most influential predecessors, John Paul II and John XXIII, on the same day on April 27, 2014. The date is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. John Paul II promoted devotion to the Feast of the Divine Mercy and was beatified — a step toward canonization — on that day in 2011. The two popes have achieved considerable international stature: John Paul II for encouraging the fall of Communism in his native Poland and across Eastern Europe, and John XXIII for assembling the Second Vatican Council, which ran from 1962 to 1965. “To celebrate them together is a sign of appreciation of the holiness of two popes who paid witness to our time,” Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, said.
Saint Faustina
Sr. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, began the spiritual movement of Divine Mercy, and the essence of her mission was to proclaim God's mercy toward every human being. Her spiritual legacy to the Church was inspired by a vision in which Jesus himself told her that a painting should be made of his image with the invocation "Jesus, I trust in you." She commissioned the painting of the Divine Mercy in 1935. Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, then Archbishop of Krakow (later Pope John Paul II), began Sr. Faustina's process of beatification. At the canonization of St. Faustina (1905-1938) in 2000, John Paul II designated the Second Sunday of Easter to be Divine Mercy Sunday. On August 17, 2003, John Paul II entrusted the world to Divine Mercy when he dedicated the new shrine of Lagiewniki, a suburb of Krakow, located next to the convent where St. Faustina lived and died. Pope John Paul II's final days coincided with the Church's preparation to celebrate the feast he described as flowing from Christ's "most profound mercy," and which he himself established.
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy (For recitation on a chaplet or ordinary rosary beads)
Begin with the Sign of the Cross. Continue by saying one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the The Apostles Creed. Then on the OUR FATHER bead say the following words: "Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world." On the 10 HAIL MARY beads say: "For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." Continue around the chaplet. In conclusion recite these words three times: "Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world." End with the Sign of the Cross.
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY, SUNDAY, APRIL 27
It has been almost 70 years since the Holocaust. To survivors, the Holocaust remains real and ever-present, but for some others, seventy years makes the Holocaust seem part of ancient history. All the year-round Jews try to teach and inform others about the horrors of the Holocaust. They confront the questions of what happened. How did it happen? How could it happen? Could it happen again? But there is one day in the year when Jews make a special effort to remember (Zachor). Upon this one day, they remember those that suffered, those that fought, the many families that were completely decimated. Six million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, which Jews call "Yom HaShoah." We all must fight against ignorance with education and against disbelief of the Holocaust.
MINUTE
MEDITATIONS
Eyes Wide Open
We are given signs and opportunities every day. If we walk with
eyes wide open and venture out of our comfort zones, great things can happen.
One short journey, one stop along the way, one encounter, one great thing, can
change our lives.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting
The victory of faith and love.Father of Jesus, and Father of us all, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to our church, by which we are united in sharing and in forgiving. Your Son put this faith in you and you raised him up from death. The first disciples of your Son banded together and found power and hope and life in his victory over death. We pray for the whole church, and especially for the local church, that we may joyfully believe that Jesus is indeed the Christ, and testify to his resurrection by our words and deeds. Though we have not seen, we want to believe, and to show ourselves to be your true children by our love. May the example of the early Christian communities give us courage and inspiration.
April
27
St. Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort
(1673-1716)
St. Louis Mary Grignion de Montfort
(1673-1716)
Louis's life is inseparable from his efforts to promote genuine
devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus and mother of the Church. Totus
tuus(completely yours) was Louis's personal motto; Karol Wojtyla (John Paul
II, October 22) chose it as his episcopal motto.
Born in
the Breton village of Montfort, close to Rennes (France), as an adult Louis
identified himself by the place of his Baptism instead of his family name,
Grignion. After being educated by the Jesuits and the Sulpicians, he was
ordained as a diocesan priest in 1700.
Soon he
began preaching parish missions throughout western France. His years of
ministering to the poor prompted him to travel and live very simply, sometimes
getting him into trouble with Church authorities. In his preaching, which
attracted thousands of people back to the faith, Father Louis recommended
frequent, even daily, Holy Communion (not the custom then!) and imitation of
the Virgin Mary's ongoing acceptance of God's will for her life.
Louis
founded the Missionaries of the Company of Mary (for priests and brothers) and
the Daughters of Wisdom, who cared especially for the sick. His book True
Devotion to the Blessed Virgin has become a classic explanation of
Marian devotion.
Louis
died in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, where a basilica has been erected in his
honor. He was canonized in 1947.
Comment:
Like Mary, Louis experienced challenges in his efforts to follow Jesus. Opposed at times in his preaching and in his other ministries, Louis knew with St. Paul, “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Any attempt to succeed by worldly standards runs the risk of betraying the Good News of Jesus. Mary is “the first and most perfect disciple,” as the late Raymond Brown, S.S., described her.
Like Mary, Louis experienced challenges in his efforts to follow Jesus. Opposed at times in his preaching and in his other ministries, Louis knew with St. Paul, “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Any attempt to succeed by worldly standards runs the risk of betraying the Good News of Jesus. Mary is “the first and most perfect disciple,” as the late Raymond Brown, S.S., described her.
Quote:
“Mary is the fruitful Virgin, and in all the souls in which she comes to dwell she causes to flourish purity of heart and body, rightness of intention and abundance of good works. Do not imagine that Mary, the most fruitful of creatures who gave birth to a God, remains barren in a faithful soul. It will be she who makes the soul live incessantly for Jesus Christ, and will make Jesus live in the soul” (True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin).
“Mary is the fruitful Virgin, and in all the souls in which she comes to dwell she causes to flourish purity of heart and body, rightness of intention and abundance of good works. Do not imagine that Mary, the most fruitful of creatures who gave birth to a God, remains barren in a faithful soul. It will be she who makes the soul live incessantly for Jesus Christ, and will make Jesus live in the soul” (True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin).
LECTIO DIVINA:
2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER (A)
Lectio:
Sunday, April 27, 2014
The mission of the disciples and
the witness of Thomas the apostle John 20:19-31
the witness of Thomas the apostle John 20:19-31
1. Opening prayer
Father, who on the Lord’s day gather your
people to celebrate the One who is the First and the Last, the living One who
conquered death, grant us the strength of your Spirit so that, having broken
the chains of evil, calmed our fears and indecisions, we may render the free
service of our obedience and love, to reign in glory with Christ.
2. LECTIO
a) A key to the reading:
We are in the so-called “book of the
resurrection” where we are told, in a not-so-logical sequence, several matters
concerning the risen Christ and the facts that prove it. In the fourth Gospel,
these facts take place in the morning (20:1-18) and evening of the first day
after the Saturday and eight days later, in the same place and on the same day
of the week. We are before an event that is the most important in the history
of humanity, an event that challenges us personally. “If Christ has not been
raised then our preaching is useless and your believing it is useless… and you
are still in your sins” (1Cor 15:14,17) says Paul the apostle who had not known
Jesus before his resurrection, but who zealously preached him all his life.
Jesus is the sent of the Father. He also sends us. Our willingness to “go”
comes from the depth of the faith we have in the Risen One. Are we prepared to
accept his “mandate” and to give our lives for his Kingdom? This passage is not
just about the faith of those who have not seen (the witness of Thomas), but
also about the mission entrusted to the Church by Christ.
b) A suggested division of the text to
facilitate its reading:
John 20:19-20: appearance to the disciples and
showing of the wounds
John 20:21-23: gift of the Spirit for the mission
John 20:24-26: special appearance to Thomas eight days later
John 20:27-29: dialogue with Thomas
John 20:30-31: the aim of the Gospel according to John
John 20:21-23: gift of the Spirit for the mission
John 20:24-26: special appearance to Thomas eight days later
John 20:27-29: dialogue with Thomas
John 20:30-31: the aim of the Gospel according to John
c) The text:
19 On the evening of that day, the first day
of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the
Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with
you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them
again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send
you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
3. A moment of silence
to allow the Word to enter into our hearts
4. MEDITATIO
a) A few questions to help in our meditation:
Who or what drew my interest and wonder in the
reading? Is it possible for someone to profess being Christian and yet not
believe in the Resurrection of Jesus? Is it so important to believe in the
resurrection? What would be different if we stopped at his teaching and witness
of life? What does the gift of the Spirit for the mission mean to me? How does
Jesus’ mission in the world continue after the Resurrection? What is the
content of the missionary proclamation? What value has Thomas’ witness for me?
What are, if any, my doubts concerning the faith? How do I meet them and still
carry on? Am I able to give reasons for my faith?
b) Comment:
In the evening of that same day, the first day
of the week: the disciples are
living through an extraordinary day. For the community, at the time of the
writing of the fourth Gospel, the day after the Sabbath is already “the Lord’s
day” (Ap 1:10), Dies Domini (Sunday) and is more important than the Sabbath was
in the tradition of the Jews.
The doors were closed: a detail which shows that the body of the
risen Jesus, even though recognisable, is not subject to the ordinary laws of
human life.
Peace be with you: this is not just a wish, but the actual
peace promised to them when they were saddened by his departure (Jn 14:27; 2Thes
3:16; Rom 5:3), the messianic peace, the fulfilment of the promises made by
God, freedom from all fear, victory over sin and death, reconciliation with
God, fruit of his passion, free gift of God. This peace is repeated three times
in this passage as well as in the introduction (20:19) further on (20:26) in
the exact same way.
He showed them his hands and his side: Jesus provides evident and tangible proof
that he is the one who was crucified. Only John records the detail of the wound
in the side caused by the spear of a Roman soldier, whereas Luke mentions the
wound of the feet (Lk 24:39). In showing his wounds, Jesus wants to say that
the peace he gives comes from the cross (2Tim 2:1-13). They are part of his
identity as the risen One (Ap 5:6).
The disciples were filled with joy when they
saw the Lord: This is the same joy
expressed by the prophet Isaiah when he describes the divine banquet (Is
25:8-9), the eschatological joy foreshadowed in the farewell speech and that no
one can take away (Jn 16:22; 20:27). Cfr. also Lk 24:39-40; Mt 28:8; Lk 24:41.
As the Father sent me, so am I sending you: Jesus is the first missionary, “the apostle
and high priest of the faith we profess” (Ap 3:1). After the experience of the
cross and the resurrection, Jesus’ prayer to the Father comes true (Jn 13:20;
17:18; 21:15,17). This is not a new mission, but the mission of Jesus extended
to those who are his disciples, bound to him like branches are bound to the
vine (15:9), so also they are bound to his Church (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-18; Lk
24:47-49). The eternal Son of God was sent so that “the world might be saved
through him” (Jn 3:17) and the whole of his earthly existence, fully identified
with the saving will of the Father, is a constant manifestation of that divine
will that all may be saved. He leaves as an inheritance this historical project
to the whole Church and, especially to ordained ministers within that Church.
He breathed on them: this action recalling the life-giving breath
of God on man (Gen 2:7), does not occur anywhere else in the New Testament. It
marks the beginning of a new creation.
Receive the Holy Spirit: after Jesus was glorified, the Holy Spirit
was bestowed (Jn 7:39). Here the Spirit is transmitted for a special mission,
whereas at Pentecost (Acts 2) the Holy Spirit comes down on the whole people of
God.
For those whose sins you forgive they are
forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained: we find the power to forgive or not forgive
sins also in Matthew in a more juridical form (Mt 16:19; 18:18). According to
the Scribes and Pharisees (Mk 2:7), and according to tradition (Is 43:25), God
has the power to forgive sins. Jesus gives this power (Lk 5:24) and passes it
on to his Church. In our meditation, it is better not to dwell on this text’s
theological development in church tradition and the consequent theological
controversies. In the fourth Gospel the expression may be taken in a wide
sense. Here it is a matter of the power of forgiving sins in the Church as
salvation community and those especially endowed with this power are those who
share in the apostolic charism by succession and mission. In this general power
is included the power to forgive sins also after baptism, what we call “the
sacrament of reconciliation” expressed in various forms throughout the history
of the Church.
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the
Twelve: Thomas is one of the
main characters of the fourth Gospel and his doubting character, easily
discouraged, is emphasised (11:16; 14:5). “One of the twelve” is by now a
stereotyped expression (6:71), because in fact they were only eleven. “Didimus”
means “the Twin”, and we could be his “twins” through our difficulty in
believing in Jesus, Son of God who died and rose again.
We have seen the Lord! When Andrew, John and Philip had found
the Messiah, they had already run to announce the news to others (Jn 1:41-45).
Now there is the official proclamation by eye-witnesses (Jn 20:18).
Unless I see the holes that the nails made in
his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put
my hand into his side, I refuse to believe: Thomas cannot believe the eye-witnesses. He wants to
experience the event himself. The fourth Gospel is aware of the difficulty that
some may have in believing in the Resurrection (Lk 24; 34-40; MK 16:11; 1Cor
15:5-8), especially those who have not seen the risen One. Thomas is their (and
our) interpreter. He is willing to believe, but he wants to resolve personally
any doubt, for fear of being wrong. Jesus does not see in Thomas an indifferent
sceptic, but a man in search of truth and satisfies him fully. This is,
however, an occasion to express an appreciation of future believers (verse 29).
Put your finger here, look, here are my hands.
Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe! Jesus repeats the words of Thomas and
enters into a dialogue with him. He understands Thomas’ doubts and wishes to
help him. Jesus knows that Thomas loves him and therefore has compassion for
him because Thomas does not yet enjoy the peace that comes from faith. Jesus
helps him to grow in faith. In order to enter deeper into this theme, see the
parallels in: 1Jn 1-2; Ps 78:38; 103:13-14; Rom 5:20; 1Tim 1:14-16.
My Lord and my God! This is a profession of faith in the
risen One and in his divinity as is also proclaimed in the beginning of John’s
Gospel (1:1). In the Old Testament “Lord” and “God” correspond respectively to
“Yahweh” and “Elohim” (Ps 35:23-24; Ap 4:11). It is the fullest and most direct
paschal profession of faith in the divinity of Jesus. In Jewish circles these
terms had greater value because they applied to Jesus texts concerning God.
Jesus does not correct the words of Thomas as he corrected the words of the
Jews who accused him of wanting to be “equal to God” (Jn 5:18ff) thus approving
the acknowledgement of his divinity.
You believe because you can see me. Happy are
those who have not seen and yet believe! Jesus cannot stand those who look for signs and miracles in
order to believe (Jn 4:48) and he seems to take Thomas to task. Here we must
remember another passage concerning a more authentic faith, a “way of
perfection” towards a faith to which we must aspire without the demands of
Thomas, a faith received as gift and as an act of trust, like the exemplary
faith of our ancestors (Ap 11) and of Mary (Lk 1:45). We, who are two thousand
years after the coming of Jesus, are told that, although we have not seen him,
yet we can love him and believing in him we can exult with “an indescribable
and glorious joy” (1Pt 1:8).
These (signs) are recorded so that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you
may have life through his name. The fourth Gospel, like the other Gospels, does not mean
to write a complete biography of Jesus, but only to show that Jesus was the
Christ, the awaited Messiah, the Liberator, and that he was the Son of God.
Believing in him means that we possess eternal life. If Jesus is not God, then
our faith is in vain!
5. ORATIO
Psalm 118 (117)
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good;
his steadfast love endures for ever!
Let Israel say,
"His steadfast love endures for ever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His steadfast love endures for ever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His steadfast love endures for ever."
his steadfast love endures for ever!
Let Israel say,
"His steadfast love endures for ever."
Let the house of Aaron say,
"His steadfast love endures for ever."
Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His steadfast love endures for ever."
I was pushed hard, so that I was
falling,
but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous.
but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner.
This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord! O Lord,
we beseech thee, give us success!
has become the head of the corner.
This is the Lord's doing;
it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord! O Lord,
we beseech thee, give us success!
6. CONTEMPLATIO
Closing prayer
I thank you Jesus, my Lord and my God, that
you have loved me and called me, made me worthy to be your disciple, that you
have given me the Spirit, the One sent to proclaim and witness to your
resurrection, to the mercy of the Father, to salvation and pardon for all men
and women in the world. You truly are the way, the truth and the life, the dawn
without a setting, the sun of justice and peace. Grant that I may dwell in your
love, bound to you like a branch to its vine. Grant me your peace so that I may
overcome my weaknesses, face my doubts and respond to your call and live fully
the mission you entrusted to me, praising you forever. You who live and reign
forever and ever. Amen.
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