04-28-2014, 10:43 AM
THE MERCY OF GOD IS REVEALED IN THE PASCHAL MYSTERY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: ACTS 2:42-47; 1 PETER 1:3-9; JOHN 20:19-31
http://www.universalis.com/20140427/mass.htm
The world lives without hope because they do not believe in God or a life beyond death. Hence, the need to enjoy as much as one can before one disappears from the world. Because this is the only life and world they have, they live in fear. If there is so much division in the world, it is because we do not recognize each other as brothers and sisters. We see each other as competitors, or even enemies. This explains why there is so much protectionism both on the level of the global and the domestic arena. Even whilst speaking of peace, wars and armaments have not decreased. Even though so much food is wasted and thrown away each day, we still talk about poverty and famine.
Indeed, the world lives in fear. This is the cause of every sin, of jealousy, selfishness, greed and power. Not only do we live in fear of privation from material needs, we also live in fear of being rejected and marginalized. We seek acceptance and recognition. Most of all, we fear death because it means the end of everything. But the irony is this – that instead of fearing the sins that bring about both physical and spiritual death, the world is more concerned about extending the duration of biological death. What we should be dealing with is not death but sin. As St Paul says in Romans, “The wages of sin is death.”
This fear is exemplified in the disciples, whom we read were hiding behind closed doors. “In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them.” Why were they behind closed doors? Firstly, they were suffering from the guilt of having betrayed Jesus and the shame of denying Him. They were cowards and not able to meet Jesus. Secondly, they feared physical death because of the enemies from without who might arrest them and put them to death like their master.
To help us to conquer our fear, God in His great mercy sent us His only Son to free us from our fears. That is why today is called Divine Mercy Sunday. At the heart of the gospel is the mercy and compassion of God. Indeed, the bible tells us that God feels for and with us. It is divine mercy that heals the human heart; only then can we speak of peace in the world and among peoples and cultures. Peace must begin with the individual. But no man can give himself peace since peace can only come from God. No man can forgive himself unless he is forgiven. No man can be freed from anxiety unless he knows that his life is in the hands of God. Jesus shows us the mercy of God and His forgiveness in His passion, death and resurrection.
His first words to the fearful and guilty disciples were, “’Peace be with you.” In these words, Jesus assured them that their sins and acts of cowardice were forgiven. Jesus did not hold anything against them. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. So Jesus wanted them to be freed from their guilt. There was no condemnation, no calling into account for what they did or reprimand but only words of assurance of peace. So the disciples received peace because they knew they were accepted, loved, understood and forgiven.
By accompanying the words of peace with the demonstration of “his hands and his side”, Jesus healed the disciples’ guilt by assuring them that His death did not end in disaster. On the contrary, He has conquered death. He did this once again when He appeared to doubting Thomas. Indeed, on this basis, the early Christians could endure the persecutions and the sufferings because of their faith. As St Peter wrote, “Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time.” Truly, death is not the end but beginning of new life.
Not only does He give us His peace, He also gives us His Holy Spirit so that we can become His adopted sons and daughters. This is what St Peter wrote. “Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.” This participation in the new life and being made His sons and daughters of course comes from the Holy Spirit given to us when Jesus “breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” Indeed, we are now partakers of the eternal life of Christ which is already given as a foretaste and ours forever after life on earth.
Only because we are now conscious that our rebirth is into Christ and sharing His sonship, we no longer view each other as competitors or enemies but as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Without fear of each other and of death conquered, we can now love sincerely like brothers and sisters. This indeed is the basis for Christian fellowship and Christian love for humanity. Charity is the offshoot of the love of God in us. This explains why in the early church, they were able to share all they had with each other. “The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.” They saw themselves as the family of God and the community of the redeemed. At the same time, they reached out to others in love because of the love in them.
Most of all, with the Spirit of Christ in them, Christians no longer fear persecution. The early disciples still had to face even greater sufferings ahead of them. After they left the Upper Room, they did not enjoy any external peace, so to speak. More than ever, they were persecuted, misunderstood and opposed. They were brought before authorities, kings and the Sanhedrin. They were put in prison. They had to face trials and tribulations. Peace therefore is not so much the absence of pain or even conflicts but it comes from a clear conscience doing what is right and true. Even though Christians suffer, they do so in joy out of love for Christ and His people so that His enemies can be won over by their love and forgiveness. “This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – and then you will have praise and glory and honour.” Such sufferings become occasions for growth and purification in love and testimony to the Lord. Christians are confident that ultimately love will conquer hatred, life over death. And even in death, life lives on forever.
What is the condition for remaining firm and strong in the face of trials and sufferings? It is this, faith in Jesus the Risen Lord. Without faith, we cannot persevere in our mission and our suffering. This was the case of the early Christians. St Peter wrote, “You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described.” This is what is asked of us as Jesus asked of Thomas, “Doubt no longer but believe … Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’” Again, St John reiterates that “These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.” Clearly, what is asked of us is faith in Jesus as the Risen Lord, the Son of God.
It is this faith in the Risen Lord that will ensure that He is always present with us and not only with us but in us. When we know that the Lord is with us just as He was with the disciples, we will be filled with joy regardless of whether we are suffering or otherwise. Truly, in life, when you have someone who is with you in your pains and struggles, we can go through the storms of life. It is only when you are alone that it becomes unbearable. All of us will have suffering but to have Jesus with us we can conquer all things. Jesus is our cornerstone. “The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.”
With faith in the Risen Lord, He will also give us the Holy Spirit to be His apostles and evangelizers. He will not send us out without equipping us like He did for the apostles. “After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’” He knows our weaknesses and our fears. Only the power of the Spirit can free us from fears.
Indeed, today as we celebrate Divine Mercy, let us announce the mercy of Christ to the world, first by celebrating the forgiveness of sins brought about by His death and resurrection; then through forgiving others; and where possible, bring them to Jesus through the sacrament of baptism; and finally by showing mercy in charity to those in need, and compassion to those suffering. With the Spirit of the Risen Lord in us, we go forth to the whole world in peace and love. Through us, we can heal the world of its fears and sinfulness so that peace will ultimately triumph over war, love over hatred and life over death.
Written by The Most Rev Msgr William Goh
SCRIPTURE READINGS: ACTS 2:42-47; 1 PETER 1:3-9; JOHN 20:19-31
http://www.universalis.com/20140427/mass.htm
The world lives without hope because they do not believe in God or a life beyond death. Hence, the need to enjoy as much as one can before one disappears from the world. Because this is the only life and world they have, they live in fear. If there is so much division in the world, it is because we do not recognize each other as brothers and sisters. We see each other as competitors, or even enemies. This explains why there is so much protectionism both on the level of the global and the domestic arena. Even whilst speaking of peace, wars and armaments have not decreased. Even though so much food is wasted and thrown away each day, we still talk about poverty and famine.
Indeed, the world lives in fear. This is the cause of every sin, of jealousy, selfishness, greed and power. Not only do we live in fear of privation from material needs, we also live in fear of being rejected and marginalized. We seek acceptance and recognition. Most of all, we fear death because it means the end of everything. But the irony is this – that instead of fearing the sins that bring about both physical and spiritual death, the world is more concerned about extending the duration of biological death. What we should be dealing with is not death but sin. As St Paul says in Romans, “The wages of sin is death.”
This fear is exemplified in the disciples, whom we read were hiding behind closed doors. “In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them.” Why were they behind closed doors? Firstly, they were suffering from the guilt of having betrayed Jesus and the shame of denying Him. They were cowards and not able to meet Jesus. Secondly, they feared physical death because of the enemies from without who might arrest them and put them to death like their master.
To help us to conquer our fear, God in His great mercy sent us His only Son to free us from our fears. That is why today is called Divine Mercy Sunday. At the heart of the gospel is the mercy and compassion of God. Indeed, the bible tells us that God feels for and with us. It is divine mercy that heals the human heart; only then can we speak of peace in the world and among peoples and cultures. Peace must begin with the individual. But no man can give himself peace since peace can only come from God. No man can forgive himself unless he is forgiven. No man can be freed from anxiety unless he knows that his life is in the hands of God. Jesus shows us the mercy of God and His forgiveness in His passion, death and resurrection.
His first words to the fearful and guilty disciples were, “’Peace be with you.” In these words, Jesus assured them that their sins and acts of cowardice were forgiven. Jesus did not hold anything against them. Love does not keep a record of wrongs. So Jesus wanted them to be freed from their guilt. There was no condemnation, no calling into account for what they did or reprimand but only words of assurance of peace. So the disciples received peace because they knew they were accepted, loved, understood and forgiven.
By accompanying the words of peace with the demonstration of “his hands and his side”, Jesus healed the disciples’ guilt by assuring them that His death did not end in disaster. On the contrary, He has conquered death. He did this once again when He appeared to doubting Thomas. Indeed, on this basis, the early Christians could endure the persecutions and the sufferings because of their faith. As St Peter wrote, “Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time.” Truly, death is not the end but beginning of new life.
Not only does He give us His peace, He also gives us His Holy Spirit so that we can become His adopted sons and daughters. This is what St Peter wrote. “Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.” This participation in the new life and being made His sons and daughters of course comes from the Holy Spirit given to us when Jesus “breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” Indeed, we are now partakers of the eternal life of Christ which is already given as a foretaste and ours forever after life on earth.
Only because we are now conscious that our rebirth is into Christ and sharing His sonship, we no longer view each other as competitors or enemies but as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Without fear of each other and of death conquered, we can now love sincerely like brothers and sisters. This indeed is the basis for Christian fellowship and Christian love for humanity. Charity is the offshoot of the love of God in us. This explains why in the early church, they were able to share all they had with each other. “The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.” They saw themselves as the family of God and the community of the redeemed. At the same time, they reached out to others in love because of the love in them.
Most of all, with the Spirit of Christ in them, Christians no longer fear persecution. The early disciples still had to face even greater sufferings ahead of them. After they left the Upper Room, they did not enjoy any external peace, so to speak. More than ever, they were persecuted, misunderstood and opposed. They were brought before authorities, kings and the Sanhedrin. They were put in prison. They had to face trials and tribulations. Peace therefore is not so much the absence of pain or even conflicts but it comes from a clear conscience doing what is right and true. Even though Christians suffer, they do so in joy out of love for Christ and His people so that His enemies can be won over by their love and forgiveness. “This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – and then you will have praise and glory and honour.” Such sufferings become occasions for growth and purification in love and testimony to the Lord. Christians are confident that ultimately love will conquer hatred, life over death. And even in death, life lives on forever.
What is the condition for remaining firm and strong in the face of trials and sufferings? It is this, faith in Jesus the Risen Lord. Without faith, we cannot persevere in our mission and our suffering. This was the case of the early Christians. St Peter wrote, “You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described.” This is what is asked of us as Jesus asked of Thomas, “Doubt no longer but believe … Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’” Again, St John reiterates that “These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.” Clearly, what is asked of us is faith in Jesus as the Risen Lord, the Son of God.
It is this faith in the Risen Lord that will ensure that He is always present with us and not only with us but in us. When we know that the Lord is with us just as He was with the disciples, we will be filled with joy regardless of whether we are suffering or otherwise. Truly, in life, when you have someone who is with you in your pains and struggles, we can go through the storms of life. It is only when you are alone that it becomes unbearable. All of us will have suffering but to have Jesus with us we can conquer all things. Jesus is our cornerstone. “The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.”
With faith in the Risen Lord, He will also give us the Holy Spirit to be His apostles and evangelizers. He will not send us out without equipping us like He did for the apostles. “After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’” He knows our weaknesses and our fears. Only the power of the Spirit can free us from fears.
Indeed, today as we celebrate Divine Mercy, let us announce the mercy of Christ to the world, first by celebrating the forgiveness of sins brought about by His death and resurrection; then through forgiving others; and where possible, bring them to Jesus through the sacrament of baptism; and finally by showing mercy in charity to those in need, and compassion to those suffering. With the Spirit of the Risen Lord in us, we go forth to the whole world in peace and love. Through us, we can heal the world of its fears and sinfulness so that peace will ultimately triumph over war, love over hatred and life over death.
Written by The Most Rev Msgr William Goh