SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy and the mercy of God is very much alive in our world today over this past year we have certainly seen that as we have gone through the COVID19 pandemic. Now that we are beginning to come out the other side it might be a good time to reflect on the mercy of god in our lives during the Pandemic. The mercy and love of god has been shown through so many people especially through the doctors, nurses and caring staff in our health services where ever we are. Through our families and friends, through those who have journeyed with us in our time of need and there are many unsung heroes out there who quietly got on with what needed to be done. We remember the mercy of god shown to us through our clergy and our spiritual guides especially in our times of loss helping us to cope and generally get through what has been a tough time. There are so many people who have shown the mercy and love of god to others over this year and any list that I would make would not do justice to them as there are so many. We thank God this weekend for all of them and the mercy and love they have shown to people around them where they are.
Over the 40 days of Lent we prepared for the Holy Week celebration, now after Lent and Holy Week we celebrate the season of Easter for 50 days. The Easter season takes us from the empty tomb of Easter Sunday all the way to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The gospel tells us that Apostles are huddled together in fear in the empty room. They weren’t so sure that the women’s report that Jesus had risen was believable. They weren’t singing for joy! Now, a whole week has gone by. They still felt “rocky” about their future as many feel rocky about their futures today as we face up to life after COVID. Thomas wasn’t the only one who had doubts about Jesus, I think so many were doubtful then as so many are doubtful right here and now. The Apostles were pondering the shocking experience of the week before when all seemed to be lost as Jesus hung on the Cross. But that was only the beginning here we are in 2021 talking about how they felt after the events of that first Holy Week and they must have been gutted. Jesus came to assure them that he was alive and then his message must have troubled them: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” The disciples were supposed to go out to teach, to preach, to heal by announcing the gospel. They were going to open the eyes of those blind, those whose ears were closed, those whose hearts are hardened like concrete.
They were sent to bring the message of Jesus to others and in the same way we are sent out to bring his message to other people wherever we are by what we say and do. Our world is hurting so much because of the many things that are happening within it particularly the covid19 pandemic. The Apostles felt rocky about their future as many of us do today but god is with us as we go out into the world as his messengers. May all of us be witnesses to the Gospel bringing the mercy of God to the people of our time and place as we go forward into a rocky future where god is with us to help and guide us.
Fullerton T 