Deacon Tom Writes
“Peace Be with You!”
Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy), Year C
The Octave of Easter.
Today we’re celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday, the last day of the “Octave of Easter.”
The Octave of Easter is the eight days following Easter, starting with Easter Sunday, Jesus’ triumphant victory over death.
Although retailers make us think Christmas is the Church’s most important time, Easter is actually “The Big One”—the most important celebration of the liturgical year. This is when Jesus rose from the dead after redeeming us with his Good Friday sacrifice on the Cross.
He is Risen.
Divine Mercy Sunday brings the Easter Octave to a close. It’s a celebration of God’s unconditional and constant love for us, a day that honors God’s Divine Mercy. It is thorough God’s Mercy we receive everlasting life something we in no way deserve.
Today, we celebrate with wholehearted joy.
Our readings today show Jesus’ Apostles during the early days of the Church. The Apostles weren’t looking to establish a new religion to rival their own Jewish faith. They had no plans to create a new, competitive spiritual organization. They only wanted to spread the story that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Prophets and keep Jesus’ ministry alive.
To this end, they were very successful, “…the people esteemed them,” as they, like Jesus before them, healed the sick and created miracles among their fellow Jews.
The Apostles shared the powers that they received from the Holy Spirit.
“On the evening of that first day of the week…” they left the locked room they had fled to after Jesus’ death. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and fearlessly began to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News, the Evangelion, that God’s reign had begun.
The people were eager to hear that message, for not only were “…great numbers of men and woman were added to them,” but through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, “…the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits … were all cured.”
We've benefited from God's mercy in our lives.
On Divine Mercy Sunday, we reflect on the ways God shows us his mercy and compassion every day. How does God’s mercy touch our lives?
Jesus greeted his Apostles, “Peace be with you.” We use that same greeting to others—many who are desperate for God’s peace, a peace the world cannot give.
Christians—especially after a successful Lenten reflection and joyful Easter season—should be filled with Christ’s gentle spirit and humble heart. Our spiritual gas tanks are full. We’re ready to take that inner peace we have received and bring it to our families, friends, and neighbors like the Apostles did after encountering the Holy Spirit. Perhaps we may even attempt to lay aside our differences and hostility toward those who have hurt us in the past. This can be a good challenge for us to undertake in these post-Easter days.
Sadly, today we’re witnesses to many horrific tragedies taking place in the world, both locally and globally. We see refugees fleeing Ukraine, people suffering from the past two years of pandemic. We see a growing world of indifference to the needs and suffering of others and we may experience a sense of helplessness. But the Easter message is that we can’t yield to those feelings of hopelessness. So,
Let’s look for little ways to bring God’s peace into the lives of everyone around us.
We are summoned to be instruments of Christ’s peace because we have experienced God’s love and mercy in so many ways. This is what gives us the power to help lighten the burden of people whose suffering is unimaginable—to defeat evil with light.
No one can save the world (except God) but having gratitude for his mercy reminds us we can “pay it forward” and be the tool God uses to show mercy to his people—even if we do just one small thing.
We are the One Body of Christ... and we need to act as the One Body of Christ, in our effort to bring God’s Love, Mercy and Compassion to all.
That is our mission for this Divine Mercy Sunday and all the days to come.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Recommended Reading:
“Living Justice” by Fr. Thomas Massaro, S.J., He is professor of moral theology at Fordham University. His books and articles are devoted to Catholic social teaching and its recommendations for public policies oriented to social justice, peace, worker rights, and poverty alleviation.
Podcast Recommendation:
Busted Halo Podcast with Fr. Dave Dwyer, C.S.P. is a unique media resource that utilizes a relevant and accessible voice to help people understand the Catholic faith, put it into practice in their everyday lives, and share it with others.
