In today’s second reading St. John describes his vision
of the risen Jesus. When I caught sight of him, I fell
down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with
his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.” (Rev.1:17)
In today’s gospel, the risen Jesus appears to the
apostles. Jesus came and stood in their midst and said
to them, “Peace be with you.” What is it about the
peace that Jesus gave to them and gives to us? The
peace that Jesus gives to them is a peace that only Jesus
can give, which casts out all fear. Today’s gospel begins
by telling us that the disciples were hiding for fear of the
Jews. They feared for their lives, thinking that what
happened to Jesus would also happen to them. We
experience the peace of Jesus, especially in and through
the sacraments.
In our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we
read: Many signs and wonders were done among the
people at the hands of the apostles…the people
esteemed them…great numbers of men and women,
were added to them. We see that the power of the risen
Christ had transformed these fear-filled apostles. The
apostles were doing what Jesus did when He was alive,
curing the sick, driving out unclean spirits… such that
the people in need of a cure just wanted the shadow of
Peter to fall on them.
How about us? Has the power of the risen Christ
transformed us? We have received the same Holy Spirit
that the apostles received. And when he had said this,
he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy
Spirit.
Do we believe that Jesus loves us and forgives us?
We experience the power of the risen Christ through
His mercy. As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday,
through today’s Scriptures, Jesus reminds us to not to
be afraid to seek Him in His mercy. We also must be
agents of mercy. Jesus told St. Faustina (Diary 742): “I
am giving
you three ways of exercising mercy towards your
neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, the
third – by prayer. In these three degrees is contained
the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof
of love for me…so even the strongest faith is of no avail
without works.”
May the Risen Christ bless you in His
mercy!
Deacon Mike