Easter_2022

Pastor's Message

                 2nd Sunday of Easter

                                      Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”     John 20:28-29

            Every day, this week, in every Eucharistic Celebration, we emphatically proclaimed our Faith in the Risen Lord with the Words of the Gospel Acclamation; “This is the Day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” Indeed, Easter is the Day, that the whole of Creation looked forward to after the Sin of Adam and Eve, and having been rescued by the Second Adam, Creation looks back to, as it speeds towards its final glorification. Today, with this Sunday Celebration, we mark the 8th Day, in the celebration of this great Day of Our Lord's Resurrection.

           This Sunday, the 2nd Sunday of Easter, the Church encourages us to meditate more on the Motivation of God; the motivation that made Him as you say in English “to go that extra mile,” in pursuit of us, human beings!  

           The Church calls this Sunday “Divine Mercy Sunday,” declared thus, by St. John Paul II on the 30th of April 2000, during the Canonization of   St Faustina Kowalska! (Homily of JJII August 18, 02)

           Both St. Faustina and St. John Paul II are referred to, in the Church as Apostles of Divine Mercy. For they called the Church’s Attention to the Truth of God’s Mercy based on His Love! Let it be known, however, that it was not St. Faustina or St. John Paul II who first taught, Divine Mercy, to humanity. The Bible is the Testimony to God’s Mercy.

           In these past days, we witnessed God’s Mercy reach its Climax! On the Wood of the Cross, we witnessed the most profound bowing of the Divine toward humanity. Jesus, the Lamb of God became “the Grain of Wheat,” that died so that we, human beings could receive the “Fullness of Life in God.” God, the Father confirmed the effectiveness of Christ’s Sacrifice with His Son’s Resurrection.

           Every Disciple is called to Faith in the Resurrection of Christ. This Faith is the essence of Our Salvation. John the Evangelist underlines this in the Gospel Reading of today, warning us against the Sin of unbelief.

           Thomas, the Apostle, surrounded by peace and joy; fruits of Easter Faith, was still in the darkness of unbelief. His fellow disciples attempted to share their Easter Faith with him, repeating the confession of Mary Magdalene: “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas was not prepared to believe, unless the Risen Lord met his conditions; “Unless I See the marks of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the marks of the nails and place my hand in his Side, I will not Believe.”

           Surprisingly, the Risen Lord complied and fulfilled the conditions of Thomas;

          “Thomas put your finger here and see my hands!” “Reach out your hand and put it in my side!”  “Do not doubt, but believe!”

           Thomas crashed by the generosity of his Master, responded with Greatest Proclamation of Faith in St. John’s Gospel.; “My Lord and My God!”

           What followed has been a consolation to every Believer in Christ Jesus, in every generation; an uplifting beyond any measure; “Thomas, have you believed because you have seen me, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!”