Today's Gospel Reading - April 15, 2012 with Psalm and Reflection

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. The Feast of the Divine Mercy.

1ST READING - Acts 4:32-35 P S A L M - Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 R: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 13 I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me. 14 My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. 15 The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just: (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. (R) 2ND READING - 1 John 5:1-6 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe! John 20:19-31 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 24Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.GOSPEL PSALM

SABBATH

BEING IN COMMUNITY The second Sunday of Easter always has as its main character Thomas, who was made famous, or infamous, by his refusal to  believe: “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger in those scars and my hand in his side” (John 20:25). But Thomas was more than just a doubting Apostle. The synoptic Gospels may be scant in their accounts of Thomas’ exploits, but John was more generous in giving Thomas coverage in his account of the life of Jesus and His disciples. In John 11, Jesus learned of the death of His close friend Lazarus who was in Bethany. The disciples knew that Bethany was a dangerous place for Jesus. Some hostile men have already attempted to stone Him there. When Jesus insisted that they go to His friend Lazarus, Thomas bravely said, “Let us all go along with the Teacher, so that we may die with him” (John 11:16). This is a clear indication of the kind of stuff that Thomas was made of. He was a man who was loyal to his master and would go to great lengths to show his faith and fidelity to Him. In John 14, the simplicity of Thomas’ faith and his honesty in inquiring, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” (John 16:5) paved the way to one of the more important self pronouncements of Jesus, “I am the way, the truth and the Life” (John14:6). But it’s in the third time that John mentions him that Thomas is forever dubbed as the Doubter (cf. John 20:19-31). It is a scene that we should all be familiar with, lest we fall into the same malady. Thomas was not in the Upper Room, the place where the rest of the disciples were as they mourned the loss of their beloved Master, but Thomas chose to dwell on his sorrow alone. And because he was away, he failed to see what the rest of them saw. This is a great teaching about the importance of Christian fellowship. Christ is present in His mystical body, His church, and its members will do well in experiencing and seeing Jesus as they live within its communion. Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you belong to a community? If not, what’s keeping you from joining one? Lord Jesus, lead me to the right community for me. Do you want to receive this in your email?  To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com. Lots of surprises await.   Blessed Caesar de Bus, pray for us.