2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY) — YEAR A

 

1st Reading              Acts 2:42-47

Psalm                         118: 2-4, 22-24, 25-27a (R. 1)

R:// "Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever"

2nd Reading           1 Peter 1:3-9

Gospel                       John 20: 19-31

LET THERE BE PEACE

Beloved, today we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Year C), also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. This was established by Pope John Paul II on April 30th, 2000, during the canonization of Sr. Faustina Kowalska. Divine Mercy Sunday is a beautiful occasion that celebrates God's love and mercy.

Upon examining today’s readings, we observe that the Gospel is the same across all three liturgical years. The Gospel passage for today is from John 20:19-31, while the other readings differ. The Gospel narrative tells us about two post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples as a group. This is where we have the famous man, Thomas. The second appearance could be occasioned by Thomas' quest to see before believing. In fact, the first appearance ends with Thomas' doubt. 

The first thing we should zoom in on is that three times in the passage, we hear the word "SIDE." Jesus appeared to his disciples and showed them his hands and SIDE (Jn. 20: 20). Thomas wanted to see the mark of the nails in his hands and put his finger into the nail marks, and put his hands into his SIDE (20: 25). When he sees Jesus, Thomas puts his hand into his SIDE (20: 27). It is the side that the soldier pierced with a lance, and immediately blood and water flowed out (Jn. 19: 34). Blood and water are symbols of life. Gaze well at the image of the Divine Mercy, and you will see two rays — blue (water) and red (blood) gushing forth from Jesus' heart. 

What is the issue here? The Greek word translated as SIDE is PLEURA (πλευρά). The Hebrew equivalent is the word TSÊLA' (צלע) which was used to describe Adam's SIDE from which Eve was created (Gen. 2:21-22). The SIDE is the region of birth, newness, and generation. Adam saw the woman and said, "This is bone of MY bones, and flesh of MY flesh." Thomas touched Jesus' SIDE and said, "MY Lord and MY God." Thomas had never said this. This is actually his first time. Adam saw in the woman a reflection of himself. Thomas also sees in Jesus the place of his rebirth. That is the place where he finds fulfilment and faith. We find fulfilment in Jesus' side alone because we were created, given new life, from Jesus' side. Rightly, St. Augustine famously prays, "O Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

The second detail is that when the doors were shut from where the disciples were for fear of the Jews Jesus came and stood among them (Jn. 20: 19). Traditionally, Jewish doors are closed from the inside. Textually, the expression, "from where the disciples were," means that they were inside, in the room, and the door was closed from there. What it means is that no one from outside can open the door. It is only the person inside who can give you access to the room. In Matthew 6:5-6, Jesus asks his disciples to pray in secret, in their "room." This room could be a metaphor for the heart. The situation is that nothing from outside the human heart can enter it if you do not will it from the inside. You have what it takes to regulate what you perceive in your heart. Only you can give access. 

We have Jesus entering even when the door is closed. He enters without those inside granting access. Aside from the fact that Jesus now has a resurrected body or a glorified body and that a glorified body has agility (agilitas), which means it cannot be limited by space and time and that it can move freely, there is something more to that entrance of Jesus. Jesus enters their condition and assures their troubled hearts of peace. Why? They were afraid of the Jews. 

Friends, when we are gripped by fear of any kind — of persecution, of the unknown tomorrow, of the seeming unanswered prayers, etc — Jesus comes into our hearts to say peace. He is always and already there. As he stood "among" the disciples and felt their situation, he stands in your heart to feel each pump and beat occasioned by fear. He says to you, "Peace be with you." What is left is that you grant full permission into your heart by making his peace reign over your fear. 

The final detail is the time the first appearance occurred. The author says it took place "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week" (Jn. 20:19). Let us look closely at the word "evening." The Greek word translated as such is OPSIOS (ὄψίος). Opsios is not really a time of deep darkness. It is a time when the sun is setting. Therefore, light was fading out, and darkness was beginning to set in. 

Know that the dark is an image of hopelessness because you do not see in it. It is also the image of chaos because anything can happen in the dark. It is emerging, and its emergence means that all these can happen. The light brings on the opposite of the dark. In Genesis 1:3, God said in the chaos, in the dark, "Let there be light." In the Gospel of today, the first thing Jesus says after the author tells us about the Fear in the hearts of the disciples is "Peace be with you. " 

Friends, we, too, have our own evening moments. There are moments when the hope in our hearts seems to give way to despair and fear. There are such moments when the light we have grows dim and we remain helpless. Jesus says again, "Peace be with you." As evening darkness descends and despair looms, let Jesus be your peace. His peace will banish the shadows and bring hope and reassurance. 

Pax et Bonum