Today's Mass Reading - Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11, 2015 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Acts 4:32-35

32 The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. 34 There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, 35 and put them at the feet of theapostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

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.” 4 Let 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 strengthand 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)

2^ND READING - 1 John 5:1-6

1 Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him. 2 In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,4for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. 5 Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. 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 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.” 24 Thomas, 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.” 26 Now 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.” 27Then 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.

SABBATH

BELIEVING, BEGOTTEN, BELONGING The game called “Flappy Bird” became a fad last year for all smartphone and tablet owners. All other games took a back seat for some time until its creator pulled it out of cyberspace.          An old digital migrant like me did not believe in such games that had nothing to do with running, racing and sweating. Since I did not believe, I also did not belong. After all, I was not begotten of a generation of children whose pacifiers are iPads and iPods, and for whom tablets are primarily not something one ingests or writes on, but something one plays with, or entertains oneself with.          But serious believers and aficionados kept the game going. They knew better than to leave it in cyberspace. They downloaded it and continued to beget more aficionados even if the game itself had been taken down from the net.        I was working in Guam when I first got introduced to Cosplay. Apparently, the reigning “title holder” for that year (2010) was a Filipino, and she was “guest of honor” for the gathering of like-minded enthusiasts from all over the island.        We form communities left and right, of all imaginable persuasions. We all claim to be of one mind and one heart, until election time comes around. And that is when splinter groups arise.        We are an Easter people. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, risen from the dead. We are, thus, begotten by God, made one by our common faith in one Lord, believing in one God, one Father of all, and belonging to one community of believers. We did not elect nor chose Him. He chose us.        Begotten of the same faith, we believe and belong, even as we bear witness to the resurrection of the Lord. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you belong to a community? Are you there because you believe in what it espouses? Or are you there because you simply want to belong? Lead me to the right community for me, Lord, that I may grow in faith and in love.

St. Teresa of Los Andes, pray for us.

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