Receiving Divine Mercy

(Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday)

Message: The Divine Mercy enables us to put the focus where it belongs.

On Easter Sunday we talked about receiving the gift of mercy. A big step is to stop thinking I am always right. Once a guy told me that when he fell in love he thought he finally met Miss Right. Now that they're married, he says, I still think she's wonderful, but she has gone from being Miss Right to being Mrs. Always Right! Well, he's got a few faults of his own.

The point, as we saw on Easter, is not to go on a guilt trip. It's not a matter of thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. That's a huge journey. Today we see someone who makes that journey and by doing so, receives Divine Mercy.

Here's what happens: The Risen Jesus appears to the other apostles but Thomas misses out. He reacts harshly. Unless I see the marks of the nail and put my finger into the into the nail-marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. In one sense Thomas is an honest skeptic, but there's something skewed: Before the greatest event in history, Thomas can only think about himself.

In spite of his self preoccupation Thomas does do something positive. Instead of separating himself like Judas did, he sticks with the apostles. That takes humility.

And he receives mercy. Jesus appears a second time. Now Thomas says, "My Lord and my God." This is actually the greatest profession of faith in the Gospel. Thomas thinks not about himself but the overwhelming reality before him.

People today might react differently. Wow! Wait tell I tell this to my Facebook friends! Can we take a selfie?

Thomas of course does go out the whole world. He is considered the apostle who brings Christ to India. You might remember the name of the priest from India captured by ISIS gunmen in Yemen. That's right: Fr. Thomas.

The Apostle Thomas brought the Divine Mercy to distant places: Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.

Today we remember another great apostle of divine mercy: St. John Paul II. He died eleven years ago on Saturday April 2 - at 9:45 pm, Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday.

So this Sunday We pray for Father Tom - and we ask St. Thomas and St John Paul to pray for us. The Divine Mercy enables us to put the focus where it belongs: Jesus, our Lord and God. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. Amen.

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Spanish Version

From Archives (Divine Mercy Sunday Homilies):

2017: Life in Christ Week 2: Take the Plunge
2016: Receiving Divine Mercy
2015: Disciples and Disciple Makers Week 2
2014: Journey to Hope Week 2
2013: Overcoming Fear - A Titanic Hero
2012: Divine Mercy in a Time of Crisis
2011: His Mercy Endures
2010: Believing Is Seeing
2009: The Eighth Day
2008: Reconciliation
2007: A Drop in the Ocean
2006: Mercy in Action
2005: The Grandeur of God
2004: God Loves Honest Skeptics
2003: The Truth Is Out There
2002: Divine Mercy
2001: Doubting The Doubts
2000: A Requisite for Faith
1999: Neither Gullible nor Rigid
1998: Be Not Afraid!
1997: Room for Doubt

Other Homilies

Seapadre Homilies: Cycle A, Cycle B, Cycle C

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