Homily
- Divine Mercy Sunday in the Year of Pandemic (2020), Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
Conduits of Divine Mercy (In this
Year of Pandemic)
v Acts
2:42-47
v Ps
118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
v 1
Pet 1:3-9 (A)
v Acts
4:32-35; 1 John 5:1-6 (B)
v Acts
5:12-16; Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 (B)
v John
20:19-31 (ABC)
(1)Today,
the 2nd Sunday of Easter and in this year of Corona Virus Pandemic, the
Church, of which our dioceses, parishes, institutions, communities or families form a part celebrates
Divine Mercy Sunday. This celebration commemorates Jesus’ revelation of divine
mercy to Saint Faustina. Pope John Paul II granted this feast to the universal
church on the occasion of his raising Sr. Faustina, a young Polish woman, to sainthood
on April 30, 2000. He decreed that it was to be celebrated on the Second Sunday
of Easter on May 23, 2000. It is an invitation to us as we continue to
contemplate the paschal mysteries of Christ to place our confidence in his divine
benevolence, even in the midst of life’s difficulties, fears, anxieties, uncertainties
the entire world is facing now because of the ongoing Covid-19 ravaging.
(2)
Even with the ongoing fear-generating and vicious virus we have so much post-resurrection-
faith-aspects to draw from scriptures, notably an aspect of Continuity. Continuity
in believing in the Risen Lord. Continuity in trusting in his love. Continuity
in relying on his tender care and divine mercy, no matter the challenges we
face in life.
(3)
Christ’s enthronement on the cross, his resurrection,
and his multiple appearances to his seemingly disillusioned and doubting disciple
(on the road to Emmaus, at meals, breakfast, praying, and fishing) evident in scriptures
were nothing but acts of love and mercy toward us. Those appearances were balms of mercy to soothe their fears and the anxieties unknown!
(4)
In today’s second reading, for instance, Peter recognizes this when he says, “Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given
us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead” (1 Pet 1:3).
(5)These
disciples, especially those who lived through the paschal mystery, needed Christ’s
peace to calm their fears. As they hid for fear of persecution, they needed to be
strengthened by the Holy Spirit in the supernatural gifts of faith and fortitude.
Recall Luke 24:13-35, when Jesus walked beside Cleopas and his friend on the
road to Emmaus as they returned from Jerusalem. They were so focused on their sad
conversation that they did not recognize Jesus until he, the risen Christ, spent
time breaking bread with them. Besides walking with his disciples or breaking bread
with them, Jesus also ate baked fish with them (Luke 24:35-48) and gave them encouraging
instructions on the beach in Tiberias (John 21:1-14).
(6)In
John 20:19-31, today’s Gospel, the risen Lord appeared to the restless and frightened
disciples with blessings of peace-Shalom! He breathed on them and commissioned them
to a preaching mission with the power to forgive sins—even those who would persecute
the church. He invites Thomas to touch his wounds—wounds that heal Thomas’ faithlessness
and our own, wounds that replace lack of peace with the peace of Christ, wounds
that replace the spirit of darkness with God’s spirit of light. Thomas touches the
wounds that testify to the truth, courage, unlimited mercy, forgiveness, and
healing love with which Christ has loved us. Thomas touches wounds of mercy, unity,
and communion.
(7)
Also as evident in the summary statements of
the first reading, Acts of the Apostles, Christ’s life, ministry, death, resurrection,
appearances, ascension, and promise of the Holy Spirit warranted the sharing of
testimonies and the preaching of the early church, whose members “devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Moreover, “The whole group of those who believed
were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any
possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the
apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:32-35).
The witnesses of the early church were blessed with the spirit of sharing and
showing mercy toward their neighbors. They were blessed with the spirit of
continuity of true Communion with one another—that same Communion that our First
Communion friends and children would usually share with us during these Sundays
between now and Pentecost.
(8)
Of course, the times we are in… of Covid-19, challenges each of us, private
citizen, individual, all of us, not just a few, cooperate bodies, civil and ecclesiastical
institutions to intensify acts of charity, to open up ourselves as doors, and channels
of divine mercy, and re-thinking of how best to assist the poor and the needy;
how to serve those we were elected to serve; how to forgive, how to be patriotic, how to provide basic
infrastructures for our communities and how to say a prayer for one another and
wish my neighbor well(peace). In other words how to learn and practice our
faith continuously in the light of the early Christian community, despite life’s
challenges.
(9)Additionally,
like Mary Magdalene, Peter, Cleopas, Thomas, and the eleven disciples, we all have
moments of doubt, uncertainty, trials, confusion, disbelief, hopelessness, and frustration;
especially the type cause by ongoing corona-virus pandemic. If we have ever acted
uncharitably or mercilessly toward our neighbors, this is the time to make a U-turn.
This is the time to dip our broken hands into Christ’s wounds and be healed and
filled with faith by the wounded healer. Even as we dip our fingers into the Communion
plates and drink from those cups, physically, or virtually from our various
places and homes of distancing worships may
we be strengthened to say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). May our
society and the church be blessed with fruitful evangelization, peace, love, hope,
faith, and unity (1 Pet 1:3-9; 1 John 5:1-6). And may our families, streets, neighborhoods,
churches, and workplaces continue to be conduits for the transmission of divine
mercy and faith in the risen Christ in spite of the ravaging effects of the
ongoing pandemic.
Reflection Questions:
1.
In light of today’s Bible readings, who is God or the Jesus of Easter for you?
2.
How do you share God’s grace and mercy with members of your faith community or neighbors
in the midst of on –going pandemic?
3.
Can you relate to Thomas in today’s Gospel?
4.
How do I serve as a conduit of divine mercy in this difficult time of corona
virus?
