Gospel: April 27, 2025
April 27, 2025 (Sunday)
2nd Sunday of Easter
(Divine Mercy Sunday)
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
1st Reading: Acts 5:12-16
2nd Reading: Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
Gospel: John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews. But Jesus came, and stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!” Then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples, seeing the Lord, were full of joy. Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! Those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, the disciples were again inside the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; stretch out your hand, and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe!” Thomas said, “You are my Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” There were many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Believe, and you will have life through his name!
Lectio Divina:
“Jesus I trust in thee!”
Read: John has an experience of the victorious Risen Lord, who calls him to write a message for the Church. Thomas also encounters him, and he makes a leap of faith: Jesus is Lord and God.
Reflect: While Mark highlights the disbelief of all the apostles, John’s Gospel focuses on Thomas alone. The others have encountered Christ and are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, but Thomas won’t believe unless he sees and touches the Risen Christ himself. Thomas isn’t primarily looking for evidence to build his faith upon. Rather, he’s looking for a true encounter with the Risen Lord, an encounter that is as deep as Christ’s wounds. How do we encounter the Risen Jesus? St. Teresa of Avila says that just as the Lord was not kept out by a locked door and appeared in the upper room, so he can appear in the soul in prayer; we feel his presence and know he is there. That sense of Christ’s presence is the bedrock of our trust in him. Celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday, we rejoice in God’s merciful love. Experiencing his loving presence makes us cry out, “Jesus I trust in thee!”
Pray: Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Act: Reverence the image of Divine Mercy and show that loving mercy to those who need it.
