Sunday, 16th April 2021
Second Sunday of Easter (or Divine Mercy Sunday) Cycle B
Readings on p.453 in the Daily Missal and p.246 in the Sunday Missal
Entrance Antiphon
Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.
First Reading: Acts 2:42-47
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
The brothers and sisters held steadfastly
to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And fear came upon every soul;
and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common;
and they sold their possessions and goods
and distributed them to all, as any had need.
And day by day,
attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes,
they partook of food with glad and generous hearts,
praising God and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord added to their number day by day
those who were being saved.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4.13-15ab, 22-24 (R. 1)
(Psalm is sung at 10am Mass)
Let us pray the Responsorial Psalm:
R/. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
I was thrust down, thrust down and falling,
but the Lord was my helper.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and salvation
in the tents of the just.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the Lord has this been done,
a marvel in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice in it and be glad.
R/. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures forever.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1: 3-9
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and to an inheritance which is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you,
who by God’s power are guarded through faith
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice,
though now for a little while
you may have to suffer various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold
which though perishable is tested by fire,
may redound to praise and glory and honour
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Without having seen him you love him;
though you do not now see him
you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy.
As the outcome of your faith
you obtain the salvation of your souls.
The Word of the Lord
Alleluia, alleluia
You believed, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Alleluia.
Gospel: John 20:19-31
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week,
the doors being shut where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them,
and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven;
if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails
and place my finger in the mark of the nails,
and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house,
and Thomas was with them.
The doors were shut,
but Jesus came and stood among them,
and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here, and see my hands;
and put out your hand and place it in my side;
do not be faithless but believing.”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “You have believed because you have seen me.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book;
but these are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that believing you may have life in his name.
The Gospel of the Lord
Communion Antiphon
Take your hand and feel the place of the nails, and be no longer doubtful but believing, alleluia.
Homily
Today’s homily centers around the familiar passage in John 20:19-31, where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his Resurrection, and the doubts of Thomas were quelled by the sight of Christ’s wounds.
First, we see the Face of Mercy in Jesus’ appearance to the disciples, who were hiding in fear after his death. Jesus’ greeting of “Peace be with you” was a powerful declaration of forgiveness and acceptance that dispelled the disciples’ fears and doubts. Jesus also breathed on them, giving them the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive sins. This shows us that Jesus forgives and makes new people of us, just as he did with the disciples.
Moreover, Jesus’ appearances to his disciples after his Resurrection were a sign of new creation, not just revivification. This was confusing for the disciples, who did not recognize Jesus at first. However, once he showed them his wounds, they knew him. Similarly, we are a new creation in Christ, and Easter calls us to share that mercy with others.
Secondly, we see the Face of Mercy in Jesus’ approach to the locked room where the disciples were hiding. Despite their physical and emotional imprisonment, Jesus came to them and declared “Peace be with you.” This gave them joy and assurance that they were reconciled with him, despite their sins and failures.
We can apply this in our own lives by asking ourselves how we have locked ourselves up, separating ourselves from Christ and others. Have we let sin bind us in fear of hell and kept out joy? Jesus’ presence and words open the locked doors of our hearts and bring assurance of reconciliation. When we listen to his words of peace, we can receive the joy and forgiveness that he gives us.
Lastly, we see the Face of Mercy in Jesus’ Great Commission to his disciples, where he sends them to accomplish the task of reconciliation, just as he was sent by the Father for our Redemption. As his followers, we too are called to live out mercy and reconciliation in our lives, and to share the gift of forgiveness with others. Those who accept this gift will receive forgiveness, while those who reject it will pass judgment on themselves.
The Face of Mercy that we see in Jesus’ Resurrection appearances calls us to be a community of joy and reconciliation. May we open ourselves to the assurance of forgiveness that Jesus gives us and share it with others, living out the Great Commission that he entrusted to his disciples.
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