Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Today we celebrate the Sunday of Divine Mercy. It flows from a revelation of Jesus to St. Faustina Kowalska, who said to her, “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy.”
Mercy is what Jesus shows to his disciples in our Gospel. After Jesus rose from the dead, he returned to them and said, “Peace be with you,” and then he gave the Church the ability to forgive all sins by saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive will be forgiven them.”
What an amazing thing! Jesus, who suffered and died for sinners, returned to them after he came back to life. He would not run away from those who betrayed him, denied him and killed him. He went back to them. He did not berate them, accuse them, or seek revenge. He gave them his peace. He gave them forgiveness. He showed them the signs of his love — the wounds in his hands, feet and side.
The story is told of a certain medieval monk who announced that he would be preaching the following Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come through the church windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.
When Thomas finally saw the wounds of Jesus, he knew that Jesus had loved him to death.
As we open the locked doors of our hearts to Jesus, let us accept his love, shown in his hands and side, and say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God.” That is the only way that we can find peace in a turbulent world, and as people who are weighed down by our own sins. Peace is the gift that comes from God’s divine mercy. Our peace is found in God’s love for us.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Have a blessed week everyone.