杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette M. Reis, fsp

鈥淟ast Sunday we celebrated the Lord鈥檚 resurrection; today we witness the resurrection of his disciple鈥�. This was 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥檚 opening line of his homily for Divine Mercy Sunday.

He celebrated the liturgy at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Saxony, about 200 metres from St Peter鈥檚 Square. Once again, due to Covid-19 security measures, the Mass was celebrated without the presence of the faithful.

The disciple鈥檚 resurrection

One week after Jesus rises from the dead, the disciples are still 鈥渇earful, cringing behind 鈥榣ocked doors鈥欌��, 杏MAP导航 Francis continued. Jesus鈥檚 response to their fear is 鈥淧eace be with you!鈥�

Starting over

Jesus 鈥渟tarts all over鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis explained.

The 鈥渞esurrection of his disciple begins鈥�: with 鈥渇aithful, patient mercy鈥�. In this way, we learn that God does not get tired of lifting us up when we fall. God is like a father who allows us to take tentative steps and picks us up every time we fall.

鈥淭he hand鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渢hat always puts us back on our feet is mercy鈥�. God knows we will continue to fall. But He will always pick us up because 鈥淗e wants us to look to Him鈥� rather than at our failings, the 杏MAP导航 said.

Thomas resurrects

All of the disciples had abandoned Jesus. They all felt guilty. Rather than 鈥済iving them a long sermon鈥�, Jesus shows them His wounds.

Once Thomas, who had not been there the first time, touches those wounds, 鈥渉e overtook the other disciples. He believed not only in the resurrection,鈥� but in God鈥檚 boundless love as well.

When Thomas鈥檚 鈥渨ounded humanity enters into鈥� Jesus鈥檚 wounds, he rises from the dead, 杏MAP导航 Francis stated. 

Fragile crystals

Thomas helps us understand how precious we are to the Lord in our vulnerability, like beautiful, fragile, but precious crystals. If we are like that crystal, Jesus鈥檚 鈥渓ight of mercy will shine in us and through us in the world鈥�.

This light will help us wait for other people, as Jesus waited for Thomas, so no one is 鈥渓eft behind鈥� as the entire world recovers from the Covid-19 crisis.

Crisis worse than Covid-19

"Selfish indifference is a worse crisis than the pandemic, the 杏MAP导航 warned. It is 鈥渟pread by the thought that life is better if it is better for me鈥�.

He begged us to learn from the first Christian community. Because they had 鈥渞eceived mercy and lived with mercy鈥�  they pooled all their resources together, and distributed it to those in need.

鈥淭his is not some ideology鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 clarified. 鈥淚t is Christianity鈥�.

Our future

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his homily urging us to welcome the current crisis as an 鈥渙pportunity to prepare for our collective future鈥�.

The recovery effort needs to embrace everyone, he said. Otherwise, 鈥渢here will be no future for anyone.鈥� The 鈥渟imple and disarming love of Jesus鈥� revived Thomas鈥檚 heart.

May we too accept Jesus鈥檚 mercy and show that mercy to the most vulnerable, 杏MAP导航 Francis said. That is what saves and builds the world.