Gospel: (J 20: 19-31)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
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St. Faustina noted in her Diary (D. 420, 505, 699, 965)
“This feast has come from the viscera of My mercy, and it is ratified in the depths of My merciful works. Whatsoever soul that shall believe and trust in My mercy shall be granted mercy.
All my nothingness submerges in the sea of Your mercy; as trustfully as a child I cast myself into Your arms, Father of mercy, to make amends for the distrustfulness of so many souls who are too apprehensive to put their trust in You. O, how few souls truly know You. O, how much I want souls to know the Feast of Mercy. Mercy is the crown of Your works; You care for all things with the feelings of the fondest mother.
My Daughter, tell the whole world of My unfathomable mercy. I want the Feast of Mercy to be a refuge and sanctuary for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the depths of My mercy are open; I pour out a whole sea of graces on souls that approach the fount of My mercy. Any soul that makes its Confession and receives Holy Communion will have its sins and its punishment completely remitted. On that day are open all the Divine floodgates through which graces flow; let no soul fear to approach Me, even if its sins be as scarlet.
Souls are perishing despite My bitter Passion. I am giving them a last resort, the Feast of My Mercy.“
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- Today we are celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy, which is so important to us, which Jesus wanted for our good. What will be my response and openness of heart to receive promised graces? Do I trust that Jesus wants to give me the greatest grace which is the complete forgiveness of sins and its punishment?
- On this special day I will remember about the attitude of trust in God and mercy towards my neighbors, and about bringing humanity to the fountain of mercy.
- The Lord Jesus calls each of us, apostles of His Mercy: tell the whole world about My incomprehensible mercy.
