THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GOD’S MERCY

 

Homily for the Divine Mercy Sunday (A)

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 1:3-9. John 20:19-31

 

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter and it is also known as the Divine Mercy Sunday. This feast day was established by Pope John Paul II in 2000, in response to the visions of St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who experienced profound encounters with Jesus and his merciful love. On this day, the readings invite us to reflect on the great mercy of God that is offered to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and and to embrace God’s mercy in our lives.

In our gospel reading, we continue to read about the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus. You will recall that his first appearance was to Mary Magdalene who saw him at the tomb on the day of his resurrection (John 20:11-18). After that, he appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). In our today’s gospel reading, we read about Jesus third and fourth appearances to the disciples in a locked room. The third and fourth appearances took place in the same place with the only difference being that the third one was without Thomas (John 20:19-23) while the fourth one which happened a week later was with Thomas present (John 20:24-29).

When the risen Lord appeared to his fearful disciples, his first gifts to them were the gifts of peace, forgiveness and Holy Spirit. He showed them his hands and side, the wounds of his passion, and breathed on them, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:20-22). These words are a powerful reminder of God’s mercy and forgiveness. We are called to be agents of this mercy in our today’s world, offering forgiveness to others and seeking mercy and forgiveness for ourselves. As agents of mercy, we should learn not to hold onto grudges and resentment and neither should we feel unworthy of God’s mercy.

One of the things we learn about the mercy of God from the encounter between the risen Jesus and his disciples is that the mercy of God can be so transformative. For instance, through God’s mercy, Thomas was able to overcome his doubts and experience the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Also, despite their initial doubts and fears, the disciples were filled with a renewed sense of purpose and courage by the mercy of God, and they went on to spread the Gospel throughout the world, despite facing persecution and hardship. In all, the mercy of God transforms our fears into courage and our doubt and unbelief into faith.

God’s mercy is not something that we earn or deserve; it is a gift freely given. We can never be too sinful or too unworthy to receive it. As St. Faustina wrote in diary, “The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to my mercy.” We are called to trust in this mercy, to open ourselves to it, and to share it with others. But embracing God’s mercy is not always easy. It requires us to let go of our pride and our need for control, and to trust in God’s plan for our lives. It also requires us to forgive others, even when it is difficult or painful.

Lastly, as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, let us reflect on the ways in which we can embrace God’s mercy more fully in our lives. Let us pray for the grace to forgive others and to seek forgiveness ourselves. And let us trust in God’s boundless love and mercy, knowing that we are always held in his loving embrace. May we trust in God’s mercy, and allow it to transform our hearts and our lives. May we be agents of this mercy in the world, offering forgiveness and love to all whom we encounter. And may we always be grateful for the gift of God’s infinite love and mercy. Amen.