SERMON/HOMILY FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY 7TH APRIL 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY 7TH APRIL 2024

Acts 4:32-35; Ps.118; 1Jn.5:1-7; John 20:19-31

 _Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever._ (Ps.118:1)

Twofold understanding of Mercy!

Today being the second Sunday of Easter, is referred to as Divine Mercy Sunday. On this day, we give thanks to God for his abundant mercies, we ask for mercy for our many shortcomings and failings, and we reflect on our mission as ambassadors of mercy. A celebration of this kind becomes so necessary when we honestly acknowledge the fact that we generally seek mercy more than we give it. Infact, we can dare to be unmerciful to the one who has shown us mercy. Today, mercy has turned into an instrument of manipulation in the hands of some persons. They preach mercy when they need it, but forget about it when it is their turn to give it. Today’s celebration calls us to imbibe mercy not as a tool of manipulation but as a virtue. As a virtue, mercy is not a cloak we put on when there is need to forgive an offender but a cloak we always put on, influencing and motivating all our words, actions and inactions. It is on this note that the readings of today give us two basic understanding of the meaning of mercy.

A first understanding comes from the gospel reading. Out of fear of the Jews, the disciples shut themselves up. This could suggest that should the Jews come around, they will not open the door. But here comes Jesus who is able to enter despite the doors where shut. At this, the fear of the disciples were heightened as the source of their fear changed from the Jews to the ghost (as they taught) of Jesus right before them. You can run from a human but you cannot run from a spirit. The ability to enter a place without passing through either door or window, is characteristic of spirits. Now, if Jesus’ spirit is before them, it could mean that Jesus had come to revenge his death. The disciples were responsible for his death to the extent that Peter denied Jesus and the other disciples ran away when the going became though. The presence of Jesus added guilt to their heightened fear. In this circumstance, peace was the last greeting they expected to hear from Jesus. But the greeting of peace signified that Jesus had not come to revenge but to show mercy – for indeed the disciples were guilty of abandoning the Lord.

If it were the ghost of Jesus that forgave the disciples, then today, we would have defined mercy as the characteristic of spirits and not humans. That is how many have come to understand the saying: to err is human, to forgive is Divine. But Jesus appeared a second time, showing the print of the nails in his hands and the marks of the nails in his side; an indication that he forgave the disciples with human features. So, we cannot justify our unforgiveness on the basis that we are not God. It was as man (Jesus) that God forgave his executioners. Immediately after forgaving his disciples, Jesus breathed on them the power and responsibility to forgive others. Here, the sacrament of penance was instituted. We see therefore that Mercy has ripple effects just as unforgiveness and revenge. While the ministerial priest alone has been bequeathed with the power to sacramentally forgive sins, all of us, by virtue of our common priesthood, are called to show mercy in terms of forgiveness. Beloved, being merciful can be difficult but never impossible. There is nothing that cannot be forgiven, if only we give the Spirit of God a chance. Forgiveness is the most difficult when we consider the huge loss we have incurred as a result of the action of our offender. But then, the Lord who has commissioned us as ambassadors of mercy, is always able to recover and replace whatever we may have lost.

One striking thing about Jesus’ appearance to the disciples is that he was intentional about his mercy. He did not just forgive the disciples in his heart; he made them to understand that he had forgiven them. This brought peace and joy upon their hearts. Beloved, be intentional about those who forgive. Tell them that you have forgiven them. Allow them to experience the joy and peace of forgiveness. One advantage of going for sacramental confession is that we become sure that our sins have been forgiven. The encounter with the priest is our encounter with God, assuring us that another chance is given to us to get better. Be sure to always communicate your forgiveness.

A second understanding of mercy comes from the first reading of today. Here, mercy becomes an attitude with which we live life and relate with one another. To be merciful does not only mean to forgive but also to be kindhearted towards others. Mercy disposes us to be interested in the good of others. Those who find delight in harming others who enjoy seeing others suffer, are clearly not merciful. It was with a disposition of mercy that the company of believers lived with one another. No one took delight in his or her abundance but in the satisfaction of the other; so, they would sacrifice whatever they had for the comfort of others. This sharing was mutual because in life, no one has it all, just as no one is too poor to share. They had everything in common. This made them equal custodians of all they had. A disposition of mercy discards jealousy, greed and selfishness. When what belongs to one is available to others, love grows instead. When what belongs to one is taken care of as belonging to all, competition is lessened.

John tells us in the second reading that whatever is born of God overcomes the world. Indeed, the world wants us to pride over what we own personally. The world celebrates and respects you on account of what you possess over others. The world wants you to acquire more and more, even if it means stealing or harming your neighbour in the process. The demands of the world is in tandem with our natural inclinations and passions. This means that we cannot overcome the world on our own but only by faith in Jesus the Son of God.

Beloved, there is already too many sorrows and problems in the world. This indicates that we who believe in the risen Christ, have a lot to do. We need to always and everywhere put on the cloak of mercy so that in all our words, actions and inactions, we will be communicating the joy and peace that mercy brings. No Christian is worth the name without being merciful!