Second Sunday of Easter

"DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY"

First Reading: Acts. 4:32-35
Second Reading: 1Jn. 5:1-6
Gospel Reading: Jn . 20:19-31

*First Reading is from the book of Acts of the Apostles. It gives a vivid account of the early Christian community. The risen Christ had a decisive influence in the lives of his followers. Their unity of heart and mind is praise worthy. It is a community ideally faithful to the Gospel message where believers shared faith and shared their possessions.

* Second reading is from the first letter of St. John . John exhorts the Christians to live a life of Love. The Christian is a child of God. Hence he should show his love for God by keeping God's commandments.

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe"

Gospel reading is from the Gospel of St. John. The disciple at the centre of today's Gospel, Thomas was a deeply wounded man. When Christ his Master and friend was put to a horrible death, he was in deep pain and left the company of other disciples. Thus he missed the Risen Lord when he appeared to other disciples. He came to know about it and he was deeply hurt. First thing when Christ appeared was to show him his wounds. They were the proof of his love for his disciples. Then he invited Thomas to touch those wounds. Thus it was by touching and being touched that he was healed of his unbelief and his grief and pain. What Jesus told to Thomas is very relevant. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe".
World today is full of doubting Thomases. Many do not believe that Christ is risen and that we can have the experience of the risen Lord in our lives. They will not be convinced unless they can touch his wounds and see the radiance of his face. But this can happen only if the risen Lord is seen in his followers. For that we ourselves need to experience the presence of the Lord in our own lives.