Archive for April 26, 2014

Divine Mercy Sunday

Posted: April 26, 2014 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Sunday Bible Reflections by Dr. Scott Hahn

His Mercy Endures

Readings:

Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
1 Peter 1:3-9
John 20:19-31

We are children of Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. Through this wondrous sign of His great mercy, the Father of Jesus has given us new birth, as we hear in today’s Epistle.

Today’s First Reading sketches the “family life” of our first ancestors in the household of God (see 1 Peter 4:17). We see them doing what we still do – devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, meeting daily to pray and celebrate “the breaking of the bread.”

The Apostles saw the Lord. He stood in their midst, showed them His hands and sides. They heard His blessing and received His commission – to extend the Father’s mercy to all peoples through the power and Spirit He conferred upon them.

We must walk by faith and not by sight, must believe and love what we have not seen (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). Yet the invisible realities are made present for us through the devotions the Apostles handed on.

Notice the experience of the risen Lord in today’s Gospel is described in a way that evokes the Mass.

Both appearances take place on a Sunday. The Lord comes to be with His disciples. They rejoice, listen to His Word, receive the gift of His forgiveness and peace. He offers His wounded body to them in remembrance of His Passion. And they know and worship Him as their Lord and their God.

Thomas’ confession is a vow of faith in the new covenant. As promised long before, in the blood of Jesus we can now know the Lord as our God and be known as His people (see Hosea 2:20-25).

This confession is sung in the heavenly liturgy (see Revelation 4:11). And in every Mass on earth we renew our covenant and receive the blessings Jesus promised for those who have not seen but have believed.

In the Mass, God’s mercy endures forever, as we sing in today’s Psalm. This is the day the Lord has made – when the victory of Easter is again made wonderful in our eyes.

 

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: April 26, 2014 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We have been told many times to go and share the good news with others for it is a fruit that multiplies as it is preached. Have we listened or instead questioned? Is it I Lord to do this? To whom shall I go? Have we buried the treasure? Starved the root so it bears no fruit?

Can we preach or share the good news if we will not listen ourselves? Many too have been sent to us to help us grow in our faith, in the knowledge of Christ. Have we thought ourselves better than them who were sent? Did we not believe they were sent by our Lord? Did we not recognise our Shepherd’s voice through them or through His message?

Lord Jesus help me to recognize You in all persons whom You send either to help me or to be helped by me. Let me never lose sight of You through the hardness of my heart. In Your most precious name I pray. Amen

FIRST READING
Acts 4:13–21

GOSPEL
Mark 16:9–15

When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.

But later, as the Eleven were at table, Jesus appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”