LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, YEAR A
First Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4; 13-15ab; 22-24 (R. 1)
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Gospel Acclamation: John 20:29
Gospel: John 20:19-31
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| Nancy Samuel-Inyang |
MY REFLECTION
I will reflect on the Psalms, as it echoes for me, the theme of the Divine Mercy of our God.
The testimony of the Psalmist is our own testimony of our Triumphant King- God's mercy for mankind endures forever.
This mercy is available to all: the House of Israel- the chosen, the church; the House of Aaron- the Levites, the priests, the consecrated persons; and those who fear the Lord- everyone who will fear God and believe.
His mercy can be trusted. We can depend on God to deliver us whenever we are down- He is our helper and our strength. When things get tough and men disappoint you, trust God's mercy to come through for you.
By the mercy of God, we have salvation. By defeating satan and death on the cross, we have "shouts of joy and salvation in the tents of the just". Therefore, as the Second Reading says: " "We have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead", all by His great mercy.
God's mercy grants us His peace, especially the peace portrayed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which Jesus has commissioned in the Gospel.
His mercy endures forever. Let us rejoice and be glad!
Peace be with you.
Alleluia!!!
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| Immaculata Emmanuel |
MY REFLECTION
My reflection centres on the readings; the First, Psalm, Second and Gospel.
In the First Reading, we are pointed to the lives of the apostles and the Church. The Church was a gathering of believers, they had one belief and one goal; their focus was centred on One entity - the Blessed Trinity. And because they had only one goal, they worked together in unity to see that everyone that had that belief reached that goal. They were not biased in any way, they helped people who believed but lack one thing or the other; they worked in love without discrimination, without class, sharing amongst themselves, and no judgment but trying to make sure that everyone reaches the goal of preaching Christ to all. There was love in action. I compare the past with the present and I begin to ask, why is there so much love, unity, togetherness, and indiscrimination in the church today? And the answer is "No". In the church we find people that have made themselves judges, we find envy, jealousy, gossip, discrimination, disunity, etc. No one body, no one faith! You will find people that believe they are very perfect and immune to falling. We need love, unity, and togetherness, back in the church and it starts with each one of us, both clergy and laity. No one's beyond falling but it is what happens after we fall.
The Psalm and Second Reading tell us that the mercy of God is forever, it never ends. The steadfast love of God never finishes, they are new every morning. Can you exhaust God's love in a day? It renews every morning.
He never stops loving us, we always abandon Him; we give up on Him every time. Why give up on God when He has never given up on you? Why give up when He is not yet done with you? Yes, there are trials, persecutions, tribulations, sickness, death, etc do you think He is not aware? He knows, He sees and His arms aren't too short for Him to reach out to save us. All He asks from us is that we should trust Him.
The Gospel talks about faith in God in any circumstance. As we grow spiritually, we come to know that we need peace above all - God's peace that surpasses everything in the world. In sickness, war, famine, etc we need peace. Inner peace is what each one of us needs and Jesus gives us his peace in the Gospel. The question is, are we going to reach out and receive his peace or we are going to let it slip away? Faith in God and peace of mind are paramount in everything we do. Amid the storm let us reach out to God for peace, believing without doubt that he alone can give us this peace. Our souls will never find rest until it rests in peace with God.
Shalom!
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| Rosemary Ibazebo |
MY REFLECTION
Food for thought: The brethren held STEADFASTLY to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.
To be steadfast is to be unshaken, firm and unwavering. What could have caused this? Why did they hold so firmly to the teaching? This means they were convicted and believed all they were taught. We can even see that by their lifestyles, more people were added to their number. They evangelized with not just words but with deeds.
Now, coming to our times... Are we steadfast in our faith? We listen to the Word of God every day, either at Mass, at our personal devotion times, on the streets and at other times and places. Are we convicted? Why do we easily give in to doubt when it seems things are not going well? Why is it that our lifestyle is different from what we claim to profess or proclaim?
Can we return to the state of these brethren in holding steadfastly to our faith in Jesus, such that even by our deeds and lifestyle, people would ask us of our God and say 'I want to join you in serving Him?'
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| Carol Coker |
MY REFLECTION
When my faith is faltering due to the sufferings around me and the trials I go through, Lord, I forget that you are testing me like gold to refine me.
Like Thomas, may I be able to be true and voice my doubts to my brethren, my priests, and my community of faithful instead of straying away. For you, Lord, will reveal yourself to me with compassion and love as you did to Thomas. You always care that I understand, that my faith be strengthened, only if I can be true.
My fathers in the faith shared your words, ate at a common table and had everything in common. It was so by the power of your resurrection through the Holy Spirit. Is there disconnection among us because we no longer truly believe in your presence in the bread and amongst us?
We believe, Lord, but sometimes we are distracted by our own desires. Help us to fix our hearts on you, our Lord and our God, Amen.
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