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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER -- YEAR A
Welcome everyone to the program IN THE BEGINNING. I am Fr. Linh.
Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter or Sunday of Divine Mercy -- Year A.
Our Gospel passage is from Saint John, chapter twenty, from verse nineteen to thirty-one.
It is said, "All necessary truth is its own evidence."
The judge said to the defendant on trial accused of stealing.
"I am not at all satisfied with the evidence against you.
So I shall find you not guilty. You are free to go."
"Oh good," said the defendant, "Does that mean I can keep the money?"//
"Guess what, Thomas? Jesus isn't dead anymore!" Peter told Thomas.
"In fact, he showed up here, wounds and all, while you were out!"
Then a week went by with nothing -- no sign of Jesus.
If you were Thomas, would you have believed such a tall tale?
Thomas was not only asked to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
But he was also challenged to base his belief upon the testimony of others.
No wonder, Thomas asked for more evidence. Thomas was no coward.
In fact, he seems to have been the only disciple to go beyond their locked doors to face a
hostile world. No, Thomas had to be sure about his choice
to risk his life for a crucified Messiah. Some of the other disciples also had doubts.
But Thomas was the only one bold enough to ask to touch Jesus' wounds.
We often focus on the way Jesus chided Thomas for his unbelief.
But we also need to remember that Jesus answered Thomas' request.
He revealed himself, and ultimately Thomas believed.
In a way, we are in a similar position as Thomas.
We too have to trust other people's ancient testimony about Jesus.
Such trust is important, but it is not enough. We also need to "see" Jesus for ourselves
so that our faith will spring to life in a transforming way.
We need to be convinced in our hearts as well as in our heads.
Jesus is eager to reveal himself to us, even if it is not in the physical way he did
for Thomas. If we unlock our minds and hearts,
he can show himself to us through his creation or through Scripture and prayer,
or through the kindness of others. Anything is possible when we are open to his
presence! We will know our hearts are being stirred
when we join with Thomas and cry out: "My Lord and my God!"
This Sunday is also the Sunday of Divine Mercy. There are two kinds of mercy:
mercy on earth and mercy in heaven, or human mercy and divine mercy.
What is human mercy like? It makes us concerned for the hard¬ship of
the poor. What is divine mercy like? It forgives sin¬ners.
What is it we want, what is it we are looking for,
when we come to church Sunday after Sunday? What indeed if not mercy?
It holds true that few people really want justice;
what all mankind prays for is mercy.
Today's Gospel reveals the mercy of God in forgiving sins and in forgiving Thomas.
It wants us to know that when we are in need of forgiveness,
we should always lean on divine mercy. God will not deny his mercy to anyone.
Heaven and earth may change, but God's mercy will never be exhausted.
If Jesus' gift of forgiveness seems too much for you to receive,
remember his words to Saint Faustina, in a vision she had,
"Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me,
for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world,
all would be drowned in the immeasurable depths of My mercy."
This Sunday also asks us to recall human mercy. Whatever generosity human mercy shows
during our life on earth, divine mercy repays when we reach heaven.
In this world, God is cold and hungry in all the poor, as he himself said:
"Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for
me." God is pleased to give from heaven,
but he desires to receive on earth.
Consider this: when God gives, we want to receive.
But when he asks, we refuse to give. And so, this Sunday reminds us
to take care not to despise the hardship of the poor and the needy
if we would hope to have our sins forgiven. Christ is hungry and thirsty in all the poor.
What he receives on earth, he returns in heaven. Show mercy on earth, and we will receive mercy
in heaven.
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion - inexhaustible,
look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us,
that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence
submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.
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and visit my website at FATHERLINH.com. May God bless you.