Divine Mercy Sunday

Children's liturgy with Jessica

Children’s Liturgy (2nd Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday) – April 24, 2022

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Be An Instrument Of Mercy, Peace And Healing

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Second Sunday of Easter – Year C

Fr. Mark Gatto

Date Preached: April 28, 2019

Like Thomas, we come to Mass each week so that we can touch Jesus and believe.  The first appearance of the Risen Lord Jesus, Thomas is not there with the others and so misses Jesus and does not believe.  The following week, Thomas is there with the others and so he touches Jesus and he believes.  He makes that great profession of faith, “My Lord and my God.”

We come to Mass each week so that we can touch Jesus and believe.  But, our faith calls us to act.

When the Risen Lord Jesus appears to the Apostles, he says to them, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  We come to Mass to touch Jesus and have faith.  But, then we are sent out by Jesus into the world.

What are we sent to do?

During Easter we listen to the Acts of the Apostles which tells of the experiences of the first believers after the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Today, we heard that people were laying the sick in the street hoping that Peter’s shadow might fall on them.  The Christian community, the early Church, was an instrument of healing.  It made the mercy and healing of Jesus visible and concrete.

Jesus sends us out to be instruments of healing, instruments of peace, to bring God’s mercy into our world.

This past Easter Sunday morning, we saw a terrible act of terrorism in Sri Lanka.  Several suicide bombings, some in Catholic Churches, killing hundreds and injuring more.  The images remind us of the division, the hatred, the brokenness within the world.

Even within our families we find divisions, jealousies, even hatred.  It is clear that our world, our communities, our families, are in need of healing, in need of peace, in need of mercy.

This Second Sunday of Easter is now known as Divine Mercy Sunday.  It is a reminder of the Mercy of God.  Reminder of our need for God’s mercy.  Reminder of the power of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is essential, it is the power of God, forgiveness is necessary for there to be peace in our world, between religions, in the church, within families, in our own hearts.

Like Thomas, we come to this Mass each week to touch the Risen Lord Jesus and have our faith affirmed.  Jesus then sends us out to be instruments of peace, instruments of healing, to bring God’s mercy into our world and into our families.  Our world, our families, each of us, need healing, peace, mercy.

Each of us is called to be an instrument of peace, an instrument of God’s mercy.  Even one act of forgiveness makes the world a better place.  Have the courage to reject hatred, violence, division when our world offers you that path.  Have the courage instead to embrace the mercy and forgiveness of God.  Have the courage to be people and instruments of peace.

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