Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Sonny De Rivera SVD, Rome
Sunday in the Octave of Easter, 2nd Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday
Today’s celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday presents two important figures whose lives, experiences, and faith shed light on the gift of “Divine Mercy”: the apostle Thomas epitomizing the doubter turned model believer and Saint Faustina Kowalska who had visions and private revelations associated with Divine Mercy.
As the apostle Thomas needed to see the risen Lord in order to believe, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” The Lord of Mercy gave Thomas the grace to understand that there was more to see, believe and embrace than his despair and disbelief. Saint Faustina, on the other hand, was privileged to understand and capture a deeper meaning of Divine Mercy when told by Jesus, “Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy.”
Both Thomas the Apostle and Saint Faustina discovered and willingly embraced the reality of pain and suffering in Jesus. Thomas saw Jesus as Mercy Incarnate as he touched Jesus’ wounds, borne out of sacrificial and Divine love. He was moved to exclaim, “My Lord and My God.” Pope St Gregory was right when he commented, “Thomas ́ doubt healed the wounds of all of our doubts.”
At the Liturgy of Canonization for Sister Faustina Kowalska on April 30, 2000, Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed: “…Jesus shows his hands and his side. He points, that is, to the wounds of the Passion, especially the wound in his heart, the source from which flows the great wave of mercy poured out on humanity.” From that heart Sister Faustina saw two rays of light illuminating the world. Jesus himself explained to her one day that the two rays “represent blood and water.” Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of Christ crucified, Risen, and offered to us in the sacraments.
From the Apostle Thomas and Saint Faustina we are left with these important realities of faith to ponder. First, Divine Mercy is a reality of hope wrapped up in a loving God who is always there to embrace us and forgive even our gravest sins. Believing in God, but not in Divine Mercy, would be a burdensome kind of faith to bear. Second, the Risen Lord is present for us every day of our lives but we need the eyes of faith to be able to see Him and sense His presence. As St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “Walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Third, “Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy.” This is a message so relevant and necessary for our agitated world. Jesus said to Saint Faustina, “My daughter, say that I am love and mercy personified.”
As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday may we receive the grace to have a deeper understanding of the redemptive effect of Jesus’ wounds. With Saint Faustina we recognize Jesus as love and mercy personified. With Thomas the Apostle, we proclaim, “My Lord and my God.”
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