Homily for the week of May 1, 2011

Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy: 2011

Acts 2:42-47 · 1 Pt 1:3-9 · Jn 20:19-31

Every year on the Second Sunday of Easter we hear the story of Jesus appearing to the apostles "on that first day of the week" and breathing the Holy Spirit. In doing this Jesus gave the permission to priests to forgive all sins by way of Confession for those who ask. Jesus also showed them that, although he had died on Good Friday, he was now alive.

An ancient way of determining when a person had died was to hold a mirror under the person’s nostrils to detect any trace of moist air indicating that there was still some breath of life. Before modern methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a person who had stopped breathing was simply allowed to slip away. In today’s Gospel, the risen Jesus breathes new life into the believing community. He removes from them the fear that choked them their leader had died on a cross.

The frightened disciples are gathered behind locked doors. In the aftermath of Jesus’ execution, their fear is understandable—will they be next ones to die?

The first reading for today is from the Acts of the Apostles. It gives us a snap shot of the early Catholic Church. There were no church buildings or churches as we know them today. Catholics would meet to pray with all the Jews in the Temple area, but after they would gather in each other's home for Mass. Soon after Jesus died St. Paul gave instructions as how we are to offer Mass. In the year 150 St. Justin described in detail the Mass as we have it now. During most of the Mass the priest and people would stand and then sit while there were readings from the Bible. After some reflection on what Jesus expected of his followers, they would participate in the ''breaking of bread,'' and received Holy Communion. One of the problems which they had was how to get forgiven or healed from any sins they might have committed.

The First Letter of Peter, part of which we read today. answers that question and tells us about God's mercy. Catholics have a long history of minding other people's business when that business involves showing mercy. Jesus made it very clear that our faith and religion must be translated into good works. Our Faith without good works is dead. The Catholic Church separates our actions of mercy into corporal and spiritual works of mercy. There are 7 corporal works of mercy among which are: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead, and 7 spiritual works of mercy. Without knowing each of you have brought mercy to others when you support our Food Shelf or food pantries, helped with Habitat for Humanity, send or message or phone call to a sick person. You practice spiritual works of mercy whenever you participate at Mass, offer words of encouragement, let go of grudges.

Peter reminds us that mercy is the virtue that gives hope. God had mercy on us. God's mercy was made real and present in Jesus Christ. With the death and resurrection of Jesus, hope once again was born into the world.

We are celebrating these Easter weeks the rising of Jesus and the rising of the apostles to the mission of Jesus. Divine Mercy is not what we get when we go to court with lawyers and judges. Pope John Paul II gave us an example of Divine Mercy and forgiveness when he went to the prison and forgave the man who wanted to shoot him to death. This he did because he too as a human being had very often asked the Lord of Mercy for forgiveness.

Many persons have lost the sense of forgiveness because they have loss the sense of sin. And because of this we have loss the joy of justice and compassion. If we believe that everything we do is OK, then we do not need forgiveness, and we never receive mercy.

This mercy of the Lord is available to everyone of us when we ask forgiveness through the sacrament of Confession. Many persons have lost the sense of forgiveness because they have loss the sense of sin. If we believe that everything we do is OK, then we do not need forgiveness. Very often this all starts with how we have formed our conscience as young persons. Our conscience is an inside voice that tells us that this is good or this is bad; we should do this or avoid that. It requires us to be honest with ourselves before God. The best guide for us to know good from bad is the ten commandments.

You and I have not witnessed Jesus in the flesh in the upper room, but we do experience him in the Eucharist. To that experience of the Jesus we say with Thomas MY LORD AND MY GOD. We are invited not to put our finger and hand into his wounds, but to take Jesus into our very hearts. Then we can profess our faith in him more powerfully and announce the Good News of his resurrection to the world. And we also be known for our gift of mercy.