DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
1ST READING: Acts 5:12-16
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 118:2-4.22-24.25—27a (R. 1)
2ND READING: Revelation 1:9-11a.12-13.17-19
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: John 20:29
GOSPEL READING: John 20: 19-31
MARY BENITA IGWEThis passage highlights the apostles' powerful ministry, marked by signs, wonders, and healing. The community's unity and reputation drew people to them, seeking help and healing. It reminds us that faith can be contagious, and our actions can inspire others to seek God's love and healing.
The passage also emphasizes the importance of community and collective prayer, as the believers came together, and the apostles' ministry was fruitful. Ultimately, it's a testament to the transformative power of faith and the impact of serving others with love and compassion.
DENNIS UKANGE How strong is your Faith as a child of God?
Whenever I read this part of the scripture where Thomas said unless he put his finger in the print of the nails in the palms of Jesus and in the side where Christ was speared, he will not believe, I began to think, was Thomas standing in for some of us who will want to doubt in the future about Christ resurrection?
Perhaps, Jesus knew that the question of whether he resurrected or not will Arise, so to put things right he appeared again to strengthen the faith of Thomas and the faith of the faithless in the future, when he said "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe".
Now, if you have faith in the resurrected Christ, is your Faith at work? Since the day Peter encounters Christ resurrection and believed, he began to put his faith at work. He started speaking boldly about Christ without fear of prosecution. He began healing people by faith in the name of the resurrected Christ. And by faith, people were bringing out the sick on streets so that at least when Peter passes, his shadow might touch and heal them.
How much is your Faith and how far have you put it at work? Today brothers and sisters, we are witnesses to Christ resurrection by faith, let us therefore begins to exercise our faith by been bold enough to stand for the truth in a society that is full of lies and deceits. And whatever we ask, let us ask in his name believing that he will answer us.
May the good Lord bless his words in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen.
LILIAN GINIKA EDENWEZEMy reflections from the Holy gospel is being centered on the very words of Jesus that said peace be with you just as the father is sending you so I am sending you and he breathed upon them the Holy Spirit. These from my reflections shows that Jesus has empowered His disciples to go and be witnesses of Him to the people the spirit he breathed on them was the divine enablement to witness for Christ and not only the disciples but to all of us. He has called us to witness and has also empowered and given peace that amidst the chaos of life we will still experience the peace that He alone gives while witnessing to His people. Therefore we shall not relent to minister to God's people not only with words but the kind of life we live. I pray the good Lord to give the grace to accept to go as He is sending us just as His father has sent Him.
PADDY KEVWETHE SIGHT OF FAITH
One problem we have in our world most especially as Christians is the fact that our prayer of mouth is different from our prayer of the heart. We are seriously saying one thing with our mouth at prayer but at the same time strongly altering a different belief that is doubtful and probable to what we have expressed with our mouth.
My question is - which prayer do you want God to answer?
Do you intend to put God on the scale of probability?
My dear, our God is not a God of confusion and contradiction. His YES is YES, and His NO is NO. So why bringing such a misguidedness to yourself?
Instead of having doubts on our prayers, why not have the sight of faith?
That is what our liturgy invites us to reflect upon today as we celebrate the Divine Mercy Sunday.
In the first reading, the people had the sight of faith to bring all their sick people out so that even though Peter do not have the chance to touch them, at least his shadow may touch them and because of this sight of faith they believe their sick relatives will get their healing.
That is what is expected of us.
St. John in the second though in a vision of Revelation was able to recognize the one who looked like the Son of man and because of his belief, the Son of man revealed to him that He is the first and last, the living one, who though died but now alive. And that brought about the book of Revelation which we read today to strengthen our faith.
Even though Thomas had walked and worked with Jesus, he did not believe in heart that the Christ is alive. And he insisted to see first before he believes. And our God of second chance came again just essentially for the sake of Thomas who doubted because he did not believe the testimony of the apostles gathered. Our Lord told him, Blessed are those believe before seeing than those who see before believing.
In all, we should walk with the sight of faith in all that we do. Entrusting our cares and worries to God totally, that he would take care of us and all that concerns us. Amen.
At the first coming of Jesus to the disciples, he commissioned them to forgive any sin. It is now left to us to either go confess our sins or not. The ball is in your court. Remember that, no sin of ours is greater than the love and mercy of God. Let us make do of this wonderful opportunity to walk with the sight of faith and not be like Thomas who wished to see before believing.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we should desire to walk with the sight of faith so that we can be able to offer hope to those we meet. And we can start this by offering forgiveness to them and those around us.
In any way I have offended you, please pardon me and forgive me.
I also, forgive all the wrongs done to me as well.
Prayer: May God's Divine Mercy and Grace be sufficient for us all both now and forever. Amen.
#Shalom
JENIFER UWATU"Peace be with you"
Like the disciples, Jesus gives us his peace, he leaves his peace amongst us.
But if we have the peace of Christ with us, why are we still not at peace with ourselves and those around us?
The peace of Christ is something we have to make our own.
How can we go about it?
This time around Jesus may not come like he did to his disciples, it may be in that quarrel your are having presently, it may be in that your family challenges, it may be in your work, it may be in a decision you ought to make that would affect a lot of persons, it may be in the these challenging time of insecurity, poor economy, etc.
Jesus still speaks his peace to us all.
The question before you and I is, can you hear Christ speak?
Are you willing to let his peace reign?
Christ is risen, may the joy of Easter break down every barrier preventing us from hearing the voice of Christ.
In your Mercy o Lord, hear us. Amen🙏🏽
FABIAN My Lord and my God
This confession of Thomas speaks to me in a special way. At a time when none of the disciples could be said to expect any miracles, at a time when it seemed all hope was lost, at a time when it seemed the mission of Christ had ended, here is Thomas telling me _"it is not over, he is still Lord and God."_
In the face of fear, doubt, despair, and uncertainty, God reminds me that he is my Lord and God. May our faith never fail us and may we be able to rise up from our moments of doubt, fear and disbelief like Thomas did. Amen
