Breaking Open the Word

By James Cavanagh

April 11: Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday

Scripture readings:

• Acts 5:12-16
• Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
• Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19
• John 20:19-31

Synopsis: The second Sunday of Easter was designated “Divine Mercy Sunday” by Pope John Paul II April 30, 2000, making it a uniquely Catholic celebration.  (In some Protestant churches the Sunday after Easter is called “low church Sunday”—unofficially of course—because attendance drops sharply after Easter.)   It is fitting, therefore, that this Sunday should be so named for the unfathomable riches of Divine Mercy is especially pronounced in this week’s readings. The first reading demonstrates the power of the risen Lord working in and through his Church with “signs and wonders” that resulted in numerous conversions. The phrase “were added” indicates that it was God who added them to the Church thus showing that they came to believe in Christ not by the Apostle’s efforts, but by divine mercy. In the second reading St. John has a vision of the risen Christ. As the last living Apostle, St. John was by this time an old man imprisoned on the island of Patmos, isolated from his flock. He was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day” suggesting a connection with the liturgy. As the bishop of Ephesus John was exiled from his Church and yet God, in his divine mercy, allows him to participate in the heavenly liturgy.  John’s vision and the vision of St. Faustina, where Jesus appeared to her as the “King of Divine Mercy,” bear a striking resemblance to each other.  Finally, this week’s Gospel describes the appearance of the risen Christ to Thomas who initially doubted the resurrection. But Christ, in his great mercy, condescends to appear to Thomas who responds with his memorable profession of faith.

Key verse: “Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (Jn 20:28)
“Catechism of the Catholic Church”: Faith is a personal act—the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself” (No. 166).

Pope Benedict XVI: “Jesus gave his disciples a new unity, stronger than before, invincible because it was founded not on human resources but on divine mercy, which made them all feel loved and forgiven by him. It is therefore God’s merciful love that firmly unites the Church, today as in the past, and makes humanity a single family; divine love which through the crucified and risen Jesus forgives us our sins and renews us from within” (Regina Caeli, Divine Mercy Sunday, 2008).

Life application: Thousands of new converts were added to the Church at Easter.  The Lord spoke of them when he said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” We give thanks for the hard work of so many dedicated catechists and sponsors who walked with them and taught them for the many months leading up to Easter. Still, it’s important to remember that these conversions are not our doing, but a response to divine mercy.