EASTER II [C] (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY)

(Acts 5:12-16; Rev 1:9-11a,12-13,17-19; Jn 20:19-31)

This Sunday we celebrate the gift of divine mercy. John wants to remind us that God so loved the world that he gave us his only son. Jesus died for us. And his wounds are his identity card. They shout out to us that God’s mercy is more powerful than death.   As soon as Jesus walks into the room where the disciples were, he shows them his hands and his side. He shows them the wounds of his crucifixion. All this is tied in with the special feast we’re celebrating today on Divine Mercy. Mercy is when’s God love meets our brokenness. As Pope Francis, paraphrasing Pope Benedict XVI, once said, “The name of God is mercy.”

And the wounds of Christ, visible for all eternity, are the vivid reminder of God’s mercy. It’s not enough to know abstractly that the name of God is mercy. We need to see it. We need to be reminded of it. So we can say that the mercy of God comes to us through Christ’s wounds. Our Lord’s mercy is the key to liberation from our sins. Where do we see this mercy revealed in today's Readings?

First of all, we see it in the reaction Christ shows to those men, his chosen Apostles, who had abandoned him just two nights before. They had abandoned Jesus in his most difficult hour, but Jesus wasn't going to abandon them. He passes through the locked doors, passes through their fears, regret, and guilt, and appears to them. He hasn't given up on them. He brings them his peace. And he reaffirms his confidence in them by reaffirming their mission: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Our Lord empowers his Apostles to be instruments of his mercy.

And then, just to make sure that the Church is fully armed to communicate this message, Jesus gives the ultimate revelation of God's mercy - he delegates to his Apostles his divine power to forgive sins: "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."  This is the explicit institution of the sacrament of confession, the sacrament in which the limitless ocean of God's mercy is showered on the sinners. But this mercy of God has to be received and accepted in our lives. When God gives if we don’t take it, it is of no use.

In order to receive mercy we must ask for it and be ready to accept it. In 1829 George Wilson was condemned to death for robbing the mail and killing the policeman who was on the way to arrest him. President Andrew Jackson granted him a pardon but George Wilson refused to accept it. The judge said ‘Pardon is a pardon only when one accepts it. George must die’. Mercy is mercy when we accept it. We read in the life of Voltaire that he wanted to live six weeks to repent for his sins. The doctor told him he would not live six days. He died unrepentant. Having mercy at his door he refused to accept it.

Let us accept God’s invitation to celebrate and practice mercy. One way the Church celebrates God’s mercy throughout the year is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Finding time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is another good way to receive Divine Mercy. The Gospel command, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” demands that we show mercy to our fellow human beings always and everywhere. We radiate God’s mercy to others by our actions, our words, and our prayers. It is mainly through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that we practice mercy in our daily lives and become eligible for God’s merciful judgment.

It’s easy to forget sometimes that mercy is not something to which we have a right. The Lord has freely given it to us.

The Emperor Napoleon was moved by a mother’s plea for pardon for her soldier son. However, the Emperor said that since it was the man’s second major offence, justice demanded death. “I do not ask for justice,” implored the mother, “I plead for mercy.” “But,” said the Emperor, “he does not deserve mercy.” “Sir,” cried the mother, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” The compassion and clarity of the mother’s logic prompted Napoleon to respond, “Well, then, I will have mercy.”

The Gospel text also reminds us that the clearest way of expressing our belief in the presence of the Risen Jesus among us is through our own forgiveness of others.  We can’t form a lasting Christian community without such forgiveness.  Unless we forgive others, we ourselves will not be forgiven and our celebration of the Eucharist is just an exercise in liturgical rubrics.

Let’s pray that God grant us a forgiving attitude to show mercy and forgiveness to others so that we ourselves become recipients of God’s own mercy in our lives.

EASTER (Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9)

The greatest miracle that ever happened in the history is the resurrection of Jesus. It proves that Jesus is God.  It is truly extraordinary that Paul made the claim that if there is no resurrection from the dead, then the faith of believers is useless and that all who have died in Christ have died in their sins. Paul knows that if he is lying, he and the other disciples have jeopardized the salvation of the whole Christian community, and furthermore he emerges as a false witness (a perjurer) before God, and is answerable to Him. The consequences of lying to (or even deceiving) believers about the resurrection cannot be overstated, because the resurrection is the foundation of Jesus’ claim to be the exclusive Son of God – and the unconditional love of God with us. Are there any proof for the resurrection? As a matter of fact, there is.

1.Jesus himself testified to his Resurrection from the dead (Mk 8:31; Mt 17:22; Lk 9:22). (2) The tomb was empty on Easter Sunday (Lk 24:3). Although the guards claimed that the disciples had stolen the body, every sensible Jew knew that it was impossible for the terrified disciples of Jesus to steal the body of Jesus from a tomb guarded by armed guards. (3) The initial disbelief of Jesus’ own disciples in His Resurrection, in spite of his repeated apparitions, serves as a strong proof of his Resurrection. Their initial disbelief explains why the Apostles started preaching the Risen Christ only after receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (4) Neither the Jews nor the Romans could disprove Jesus’ Resurrection by presenting the dead body of Jesus if the body had been stolen as they claimed. (5) The Apostles and early Christians would not have faced martyrdom if they were not absolutely sure of Jesus’ Resurrection. (6)  Apostle Paul’s conversion from a persecutor of Christians to a zealous preacher of Jesus supports the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. (Gal 1:11-17, Acts 9:1, Acts 9:24-25, Acts 26:15-18).  (7) The sheer existence of a thriving, empire-conquering early Christian Church, bravely facing and surviving three centuries of persecution, supports the truth of the Resurrection claim.

The seventeenth-century philosopher, John Locke, some of whose ideas were incorporated into the Declaration of Independence, wrote, “Our Savior’s Resurrection is truly of great importance in Christianity, so great that His being or not being the Messiah stands or falls with it.”

A day after the terrible tragedy at Columbine High, CNN journalist Larry King did a live interview with a teenage girl named Mickie Cain, a student who had witnessed the massacre. Mickie was having a difficult time maintaining her composure and was able to blurt out only a few words before lapsing into uncontrollable sobs. Larry King was patient and gave her plenty of time to regain her composure. Mickie recounted the chilling story: “Let me tell you about my friend Cassie,” she said. “[Cassie] was amazing . . . She completely stood up for God when the killers asked her if there was anyone [in the classroom] who had faith in Christ. She spoke up [and said she did] and they shot her for it.” Such a testimony as Cassie made that day makes our witness look pretty pathetic. The critical question is, would we make such a sacrifice for something that we knew was patently untrue? Of course not. And neither would those early disciples of Christ. They had met Christ, Risen from the grave, and they would not testify otherwise, even while being tortured. The witnesses are so credible, the change in their lives so dramatic, that their testimony cannot be disregarded.

Easter gives us the joyful message that we are a “Resurrection people.”  This means that we are not supposed to lie buried in the tomb of our sins, evil habits and dangerous addictions.  It gives us the Good News that no tomb can hold us down anymore – not the tomb of despair, discouragement or doubt, nor that of death.  Instead, we are expected to live a joyful and peaceful life, constantly experiencing the real presence of the Risen Lord in all the events of our lives.  

Father Basil Pennington, a Catholic monk, tells of an encounter he once had with a teacher of Zen. Pennington was at a retreat. As part of the retreat, each person met privately with this Zen teacher. Pennington says that at his meeting, the Zen teacher sat there before him smiling from ear to ear and rocking gleefully back and forth. Finally, the teacher said: “I like Christianity. But I would not like Christianity without the Resurrection. I want to see your Resurrection!” Pennington notes that, “With his directness, the teacher was saying what everyone else implicitly says to Christians: ‘You are a Christian. You are risen with Christ. Show me (what this means for you in your life) and I will believe.’ That is how people know if the Resurrection is true or not. We have to show that in this world of pain, sorrows, and tears, that life is worth living by our belief in the resurrection.  It is our belief in the Real Presence of the Risen Jesus in our souls, in His Church, in the Blessed Sacrament, and in Heaven, that gives meaning to our personal, as well as to our common, prayers.  

There is a story of a man whose hobby was growing roses. When he worked in his rose garden, he always whistled. It seemed to everyone that he was whistling much louder than was needed for his own enjoyment. One day a neighbor asked him why it was that he always whistled so loudly. The man then took the neighbor into his home to meet his wife. The woman was not only an invalid but was completely blind as well. The man was whistling, not for his benefit, but rather for the benefit of his wife. He wanted his blind wife to know that he was nearby, and that she was not alone. That story is a wonderful illustration of the significance of Easter Day. The affirmation, “Christ is risen!” reminds us that God is near, and the experiencing of His presence strengthens us in our weakness. If not dead and risen Jesus could only be in Palestine or only in just one place. But risen, he is present everywhere with us.

Easter reminds us that every Good Friday in our lives will have an Easter Sunday and that Jesus will let us share the power of His Resurrection.  Each time we face a betrayal of trust, we share in the Resurrection of Jesus.  Each time we fail in our attempts to ward off temptations – but keep on trying to overcome them – we share in the Resurrection.  Each time we continue to hope – even when our hope seems unanswered – we share in the power of Jesus’ Resurrection.  In short, the message of Easter is that nothing can destroy us – not pain, sin, rejection or death – because Christ has conquered all these, and we too can conquer them if we put our Faith in Him. Jesus is risen, we also will rise from the dead, and therefore, let’s rejoice and be glad.

GOOD FRIDAY.

Jesus spoke 7 words from the cross. These seven words are taken from different gospels, but assembled into what was probably in their chronological order:

1."Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

2."This day you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

3."Woman, behold your son." (John 19:26-27)

4."My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mk 15:34; Mt 27:46)

5."I thirst." (John 19:28)

6."It is finished." (John 19:30)

7."Into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

Today we focus on the 6^th verse of Jesus: It is finished. Note that Jesus didn’t say I am finished, rather It is finished or TETELESTAI in Gk. Of all the seven famous sayings of Christ on the cross, none is more remarkable than TETELESTAI.” In Latin tetelestai is rendered with two words “Consummatum est” (It is consummated!)

Every word indeed that proceeded from our Saviour’s lips deserves the most attentive consideration: but TETELESTAI eclipses all.

It has been said that Christ’s RESURRECTION is the Father’s “AMEN” to His Son's declaration “IT IS FINISHED.” Looking at the Cross we see the work of redemption completed. Looking at the open tomb we see Jesus’ finished work fully accepted by the Father. The payment required for sin is death (Gn 2:17; Rom 5:12;Ro 6:23) and when Christ said TETELESTAI, He was saying that the sin debt was “PAID IN FULL!"

In ancient times when a promissory note was paid, the one holding the note wrote “TETELESTAI” across it. A deed to property was not in effect until it was dated and signed, and when this was accomplished, the clerk wrote “TETELESTAI” across the deed. When someone had a debt and it was paid off, the creditor would write "TETELESTAI" on the certificate of debt signifying that it was "PAID IN FULL".

 When Jesus uttered those words, He was declaring that the debt owed by mankind to His Father was wiped away completely and forever.

Just prior to His arrest by the Romans, Jesus prayed His last public prayer, asking the Father to glorify Him, just as Jesus had glorified the Father on earth, having “finished the work you have given me to do” (Jh 17:4). The work Jesus was sent to do was to “seek and save that which is lost” (Lk 19:10), to provide atonement for the sins of all who would ever believe in Him (Rom 3:23-25), and to reconcile sinful men to a holy God. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18-19). None other but God in the flesh could accomplish such a task.

Also completed was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies, symbols, and foreshadowings of the coming Messiah. From Genesis to Malachi, there are over 300 specific prophecies detailing the coming of the Anointed One, all fulfilled by Jesus. From the “seed” who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, to the prediction of the “messenger” of the Lord (John the Baptist) who would “prepare the way” for the Messiah, all prophecies of Jesus’ life, ministry, and death were fulfilled and finished at the cross.

This saying is found only in John’s gospel and he presents Jesus as the Passover lamp that was slain for taking away the sins of Israel.  John recalls the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12 in this passage. The soldiers offered wine on a sprig of hyssop to the Lord. Hyssop is a small plant that was used to sprinkle the blood of the Passover Lamb on the doorposts of the Hebrews (Ex 12:22). John's Gospel related that it was the Day of Preparation, the day before the actual Sabbath Passover, that Jesus was sentenced to death (19:14) and sacrificed on the Cross (19:31). John continues in 19:33-34: "But when they came to Jesus and saw he was already dead, they did not break his legs," recalling the instruction in Exodus 12:46 (do not break any of its bones) concerning the Passover Lamb. He died at the ninth hour (three o'clock in the afternoon), about the same time as the Passover lambs were slaughtered in the Temple.

The phrase "It is finished" carries a sense of accomplishment. In John, there is no trial before the Sanhedrin, but rather Jesus is introduced at the Roman trial as "Behold your King!" (John 19:14). Jesus is not stumbling or falling as in the Synoptic Gospels, but the way of the Cross is presented with majesty and dignity, for "Jesus went out bearing his own Cross" (John 19:17).
Jesus remained in control to the end, and it is He who handed over his Spirit.

Jesus mentions living water in John 4:10 and during the Feast of Tabernacles refers to living water as the Holy Spirit in 7:37-39.  "But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water." The piercing of his side fulfills the prophecy in Zechariah 12:10: "They will look on me whom they have pierced." The piercing of Jesus' side prefigures the Sacraments of Eucharist (blood) and Baptism (water), as well as the beginning of the Church.

What was finished was our salvation, plain and simple. What was finished was the devil, and his power to accuse us before God in Heaven. What was finished was the power of sin to control and rule our lives. Sin was finished. Satan was finished. Death was finished. Today let’s reflect on what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross and his words TETELESTAI.

Holy Thursday: (Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; I Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15)

The Stole and the Towel is the title of a book, which sums up the message of the Italian bishop, Tony Bello, who died of cancer at the age of 58.  On Holy Thursday of 1993, while on his deathbed, he dictated a pastoral letter to the priests of his diocese.  He called upon them to be bound by “the stole and the towel.”  The stole symbolizes union with Christ in the Eucharist, and the towel symbolizes union with humanity by service.  Today we celebrate the institution of both the Eucharist and the priesthood: the feast of “the stole and the towel,” the feast of love and service.

On Holy Thursday, we celebrate three anniversaries: 1) the anniversary of the first Holy Mass, 2) the anniversary of the institution of ministerial priesthood 3) the anniversary of the promulgation of Jesus’ new commandment of love: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). 

Jesus transformed the Jewish Passover into the Eucharistic celebration.  First, he washed His Apostles’ feet – a tender reminder of his undying affection for them and the need for the brotherly love expected in his disciples. Then he commanded them to do the same for each other. The incident reminds us that our vocation is to take care of one another as Jesus always takes care of us. Finally, Jesus gave his apostles his own Body and Blood under the appearances of bread and wine as Food and Drink for their souls, so that, as long as they lived, they’d never be without the comfort and strength of his presence. This Gospel episode challenges us to become for others Christ the healer, Christ the compassionate and selfless brother, Christ the humble “washer of feet.”

John in his account of the Last Supper, makes no mention of the establishment of the Eucharist because his theology of the Eucharist is detailed in the “bread of life” discourse following the multiplication of the loaves and fish around the time of Passover, in chapter 6 of his Gospel. Jesus, the Son of God, began his last Passover celebration by washing the feet of his disciples (a service assigned to household servants), as a lesson in humble service, demonstrating that he “came to the world not to be served but to serve.” (Mk 10:45). He followed the ritual of the Jewish Passover meal up to the second cup of wine. The third cup he changed into his own blood and the fourth he said he will not drink until he is glorified. After serving the roasted lamb as a third step, Jesus offered his own Body and Blood as food and drink under the appearances of bread and wine. Thus, he instituted the Holy Eucharist as the sign and reality of God’s perpetual presence with His people as their living  heavenly food.  This was followed by the institution of the priesthood with the command, “Do this in memory of me.”   Jesus concluded the ceremony with a long speech incorporating his command of love: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). Jesus’ death on the cross was his serving the humanity with all of his life. When we humble ourselves and bent down in the service of others we are following Christ in his teachings and examples.

Peggy Noonan, former White House speechwriter, speaks about Ronald Reagan’s one example of service. She says:  A few days after President Reagan had been shot, when he was able to get out of bed, he wasn’t feeling well, so he went into the bathroom that connected to his room. He slapped some water on his face and some of the water slopped out of the sink. He got some paper towels and got down on the floor to clean it up. An aide went in to check on him and found the president on his hands and knees on the cold tile floor, mopping up water with paper towels. “Mr. President,” the aide said, “what are you doing? Let the nurse clean that up!” President Ronald Reagan said, “Oh, no. I made that mess, and I’d hate for the nurse to have to clean it up.”  This type of attitude to do humble jobs which is others’ share, we end up washing their feet.

President Nelson Mandela of South Africa was one of those rare politicians who had the common touch even when the cameras were not rolling. When he spoke at banquets, he made a point of going into the kitchen and shaking hands with every dishwasher and busboy. When out in public he often worried his bodyguards because he was prone to stop to talk with a little child. Typically, he would ask, “How old are you son?” Then his next question was, “What did you have for breakfast today?” In that strange, wonderful company called the Kingdom of God, even the bosses wash feet. Pope Francis knelt down and kissed the feet of South Sudan’s government and opposition leaders after urging them to restore peace, which has been in civil war since 5 years. This is servant leadership. Have we allowed Jesus to give us a servant’s heart and servant’s hands? Be servant leaders in a serving community. This servant mentality can be shown in our families too.

Our celebration of the Eucharist requires that we wash one another’s feet, i.e., serve one another and revere Christ’s presence in other persons.   To wash the feet of others is to love them, especially when they don’t deserve our love, and to do good to them, even when they can’t, won’t, or don’t return the favor. It is to consider others’ needs to be as important as our own. It is to forgive others from the heart, even though they don’t say, “I’m sorry.” It is to serve them, even when the task is unpleasant. It is to let others know we care when they feel downtrodden or burdened. It is to be generous with what we have. It is to turn the other cheek instead of retaliating when we’re treated unfairly. It is to make adjustments in our plans in order to serve others’ needs without expecting any reward. In doing and suffering all these things in this way, we love and serve Jesus himself, as he has loved us and has taught us to do (Mt 25:31-ff).

 Peter refused to have his feet washed. Jesus told him, ‘If I do not wash your feet, you can have no companionship with Me.’ “Let’s tell Jesus that my/our feet are dirty…. Pour water into your basin and come and wash my feet, because I do want Your companionship.” And help me also have the attitude to wash others’ feet.