DIVINE MERCY: SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

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A HEART FOR THOMAS





Can you imagine what Thomas must have felt after Jesus appeared to the disciples, but with a special gesture, turned to him and removed his doubt by giving him the special grace to feel his wounds, to touch his body, to connect with him in a personal and compassionate way.



He did not hear a reprimand. He did not receive a warning. He did not suffer any rebuke. And this made him confirm what he has kept in his heart for long: My Lord and my God!



What else can we say about this second Sunday of Easter, this Sunday of Divine Mercy? This is a special jubilee year of God’s mercy and left and right, pope, bishops, priests, lay leaders are touting the theme of mercy as if it is an easy thing to dispense, to receive, or to experience.



We can have all the theology of mercy. We can have all the spirituality of mercy. We can have all the pastoral programs of mercy.



But mercy is not a topic, at least for Jesus, it wasn’t. Mercy is practice. It is the practice of seeking out a Thomas so that he would not be lost in his doubt, in his sadness and fear, in his pain and desperation.



We can say we are a church of mercy but reject people who are sinners and non-conformist. We can preach mercy but never get out of our house to find one who needs mercy. We can reflect on God’s mercy for us the whole day, and forget that mercy is not for you alone, but for you to share with those who need it most.



Is there somebody you are rejecting and pushing out ? Is there someone you have been ignoring to call or contact?  Is there anybody who you would rather not talk to? Is there any one out there in the cold you don’t bother approaching and bringing into the warmth of your heart?



It is better we stop talking about mercy. We must decide to be loving, forgiving and merciful and Jesus did… not by words, but by concrete actions of love to a Thomas who needed him.


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