Daily Catholic Lectio
Sun, 7 April 2024
Second Sunday of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday
Acts 4:32-35. 1 John 5:1-6. John 20:19-31
My Lord, My God!
The Second Sunday of Easter is celebrated as the Divine Mercy Sunday because of the foundation text for the Sacrament of Reconciliation – ‘whose sins you forgive will be forgiven’ – that we see in today’s gospel reading.
‘Mercy’ is rendered as ‘rehem’ in Hebrew, which is symbolised by the word-picture ‘womb.’ As a child feels protected within the womb of its mother, humanity feels protected by God’s mercy and providence. The word is rendered as ‘eleos’ in Greek, as derived from ‘olive oil’ referring to healing, comfort, and soothing. God’s mercy gives healing and comfort to human persons and soothes them.
(a) Embracing human frailty
The first dimension of Mercy is God putting up with human vulnerability or fragility. The gospel reading portrays the frailty of Thomas when it comes to believing in Jesus. Jesus chooses to embrace Thomas in his human frailty.
(b) Non-judgemental love
Jesus, who appears to his disciples, does not say, ‘those who believe me, come to my right,’ and ‘those who don’t, go to my left.’ Rather, he acknowledged those who believed in him and invited Thomas to believe in him.
(c) Closeness to touching God’s heart
At the crucifixion of Jesus, some bystanders were close to Jesus; the centurion who pierced Jesus’ side was closer to Jesus; and Thomas became the closest to Jesus because of his ability to reach the heart of God. In such closeness, he surrenders, saying, ‘My Lord, My God.’
In the second creation narrative, God chooses to make out of the rib a woman. Through the touch of God, the woman was born. Through the touch of the risen Lord, Thomas is reborn.
The first reading recommends that our faith in Jesus must be translated into actions of communion, breaking of bread, sharing, and praying. The early Christians became other-centred and God-centred. They don’t ask, ‘What will I get out of it if I do this to him?’ But he questions, ‘What will happen to him if I don’t do this?’
“That which is born of God will win over the world,” says John in the second reading. We, who receive God’s mercy, win the world.
What are the lessons for us?
(a) How do we experience that mercy is God’s name and his being? Do I go for confessions regularly? What are the obstacles? Laziness, procrastination, indifference, and self-justification?
(b) We who experience divine mercy must share it with others.
(c) When I surrender to Jesus, saying, ‘My Lord, My God,’ do I keep this surrender as mere words? or do I wish to fulfil his will?
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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