027 Divine Mercy Sunday
Readings
Cycle B Divine Mercy SundayNew Testament: 1 John 5: 1-6
Old Testament: Amos 4:32-35
Gospel: John 19-21
Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4,,13-15, 22-24
Homily Theme
Mercy
One of the most amusing confessions I ever heard came from a young child who began by saying. ‘Bless me Father for I have sinned, this is my last confession.’ When asked why it was his last confession, he quickly responded, ‘Because the other one was my first.’ As amusing as this story is, it is a serious matter that there are literally millions who can’t remember when their last confession was. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church invites them, and us, to come home if we have strayed. Those of us who are older, can remember the long lines at the Confessionals every Saturday Evening, and even during the Sunday Masses where there were extra priests to hear them. Now, there are no longer long lines even on Saturdays. Where have all the sinners gone? How often do we take advantage of His Divine Mercy?
Have you ever seen something so revolting that it made you sick to your stomach like a leper with oozing flesh, or something so ugly that you had to avert your gaze? This is nothing compared to the smallest sin that God has to see as He gazes upon us. Even the smallest venial sin is a serious offence against the almighty, all loving and all powerful God. Because of sin the human race has condemned itself to a life of suffering, pain, sickness and eternal death. Leprosy only destroys and kills the body, but sin destroys and kills the soul. But, God in His mercy, so loved the world, that He sent His only Son to heal us and to restore us to our original beauty and perfection. He died a painful death on a cross so that we might live forever with Him. so we can be saved by His Infinite Mercy No matter how great our sins may be we must never despair. God’s love is greater than our many sins and if we repent and turn back to Him in faith, we can be saved by his Infinite Mercy
In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to the apostles in the upper room and gives them the authority to forgive sin in His name. Even the greatest sinners can repent and receive pardon and absolution through this ministry of reconciliation. The greatest sinners can now become the greatest saints. We have all sinned, yet there is no sin which God’s infinite mercy can not remove for those who believe in Him. Peter sinned by denying Him three times and was forgiven. In today’s gospel, Thomas is forgiven for doubting. Thomas needed proof that Jesus was really alive and only believed when he got that proof. Jesus assures us today, that we, who have not seen Him, are greatly blessed for believing without proof. Perhaps you believe that your sins are too great or that your faith is too weak. Trust Him. He is waiting for you to open your heart to receive His love and forgiveness. This is Divine Mercy Sunday; will you resolve to go confession to receive absolution and pardon for all your sins? All you have to do is repent of your sins no matter how many or how great they are. If your sins be scarlet they will become whiter than snow. Pope John Paul II proclaimed this Sunday to be Divine Mercy Sunday, a day on which a plenary indulgence can be obtained for all those who make a good confession and repent of their sins. We have Saint Faustina, the Polish Sister of Mercy, to thank for this Feast