Homily For The 2nd Sunday Of Easter, Year A.

 

(DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY)

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

“MERCY MEANS COMMUNITY AND COMMUNION!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·       On this second Sunday of Easter, the church celebrates the solemnity of Divine Mercy. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have become the eternal beneficiaries of the mercy of God. If God has shown us mercy, we too ought to show mercy to those around us.

·       This Divine Mercy Sunday was initiated by Pope Saint John Paul in the year 2000 during the canonisation mass of St. Maria Faustina. This Holy nun took it upon herself to spend time before the Eucharistic Jesus pleading for the mercy of God upon the whole world.

·       The message to pray for the mercy of God upon the whole world was entrusted to St. Maria Faustina following the two World Wars. Jesus told Sr Faustina: “Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy.” Through the work of the Polish religious, this message has become linked forever to the 20th century, the last of the second millennium, and the bridge to the third. It is not a new message but can be considered a gift of special enlightenment that helps us to relive the Gospel of Easter more intensely, to offer it as a ray of light to the men and women of our time.

·       Dear friends, can you imagine a community or a communion without the mercy of God and the readiness to show mercy by members of the said community? A community is built on mutual understanding, forgiveness, and willingness to work together.

·       As Christians, God expects us to build a community of brothers and sisters who are companions on the journey to heaven. Because it is a community, for that community to thrive, we must be ready to always forgive one another. A forgiving community leads to an unbreakable communion with one another and with God.

·       In the first reading (Acts 2:42-47), we see a model of what our modern-day Christian community should look like. They remained faithful to the teachings of the Apostles and to the breaking of bread. The early Christians were a community of believers, and they were in communion with God and with each other.

·       From this community and communion, a lot flowed: miracles happened, they shared their possessions in common, and they prayed together and broke bread together as a sign of their communion. Because they were in community and communion, God was glorified.

·       On this Divine Mercy Sunday, God is also tasking us with communion and community. How ready are we to forgive our brothers and sisters who have wronged us? Do you see your fellow parishioner as a guide and a companion on the journey to heaven? How willing are you to contribute your resources for the welfare of members who are in need and for the building of God's kingdom on earth?

·       There can be no community or communion without sacrifice and readiness to show mercy. The early Christians made enormous sacrifices, including shedding their blood. Some gave their all for the work of evangelisation. Many of us are beneficiaries of such sacrifices. What sacrifices are you prepared to make today for the benefit of the generations after?

·       In the second reading (1 Peter 1:3-9), St. Peter tells us that mercy can be painful; it can be demanding. However painful it may be sometimes, the fact that the Son of God had to die for us to obtain the mercy of God should be a spiritual challenge to us. To be able to show mercy, we must be ready to die to self, die to exaggerated self-worth and pride. Jesus, although he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God... (Philippians 2).

·       John in today's gospel reading (John 20:19-31) highlights something we might have missed. Which is the fact that the first gift of the resurrected Jesus to the world is peace! Having purchased for us the mercy of God on Calvary, he now breathes peace upon us. Mercy comes before peace. If there is no forgiveness, there can be no peace.

·       Dearly beloved, on our own we could not have done it well. We could not have sufficiently attracted the mercy of God. Jesus Christ did this for us so that we can live in the peace of God. Today, the challenge is thrown at you: work for peace through forgiveness.

·       Jesus said to his disciples, As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ He commissions his disciples to become messengers of mercy. Today, too, we are commissioned to know that, having enjoyed the limitless mercy of God, we must now be ready to show mercy to our brothers and sisters.

·       Jesus calls you and me to become his agents of mercy in a world full of hate, unforgiveness, and bitterness. In simple terms, God is saying to us, ABC, which means: Ask for mercy from God, Be merciful to others, Completely trust in Jesus! We forgive and teach others to do the same, then we build a Christian community where there is peace and communion.

·       Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!!!