Homily 2Nd Sunday of Easter Year B 2012

Homily 2nd Sunday of Easter Year B 2012 Acts 4:32-35; 1 John 6:1-6; John 20:19-31

The end of this month marks the 12th anniversary of when the second Sunday of Easter was designated Divine Mercy Sunday by Pope John Paul II. It was also the day he canonized Sr. Faustina Kowalska, the nun whom Jesus told his Divine Mercy should be venerated by all the faithful.

In a homily the following year, the Pope called the resurrection of Jesus a 'miracle of mercy'. And since his Passion, Death, and Resurrection was his crowning work on earth, it can truly be called a mission of mercy, on which Jesus was sent by the Father, to save the world from sin.

To describe the mission in this way has serious implications for us. Allow me to slightly rephrase what Jesus said to his disciples in the gospel today. "As the Father has sent me, on a mission of mercy, so I send you, on a mission of mercy too." Well, just what exactly does it mean to be merciful?

For some reason, a more negative connation always comes to mind first for me. Ya know, I think of refraining from really putting the screws to someone when you'd be justified in doing so … like not punishing them as much as they deserve, or not making them pay back everything they owe.

But as Christians, we should have a much more positive view. And we can get that from today's readings. According to John's gospel, this is the first day Jesus appears to his disciples after his death … to those who, save a few, flew the coop when he needed them most.

So does he lay a guilt trip on them and say, "After all I did for you, why'd you take off and leave me hanging?" Pun very much intended. Nope, that doesn't come up at all. Instead, he comes to heal them and relieve their fear: bearing gifts of peace and the Holy Spirit, forgiving them and enabling them to forgive.

Mercy, in large measure, is about forgiveness. So how do we fulfill that mission when we're disappointed by someone? Do we seek them out with an offering of peace and reconciliation?

Rev. Michael G. Cambi 1 4/15/2012 Truth is we're probably more apt to sit back and wait for them to find us. After all, it's their fault right? And if indeed they do approach … with head hung low, and tail between the legs … is our first response, 'Peace be with you', or is it 'Why on earth did you treat me that way?'

Did you fully appreciate what Jesus did to help Thomas overcome his unbelief? He was willing to do as much as Thomas needed him to … to offer exactly what Thomas asked for … without giving him a hard time, or showing any signs of spitefulness.

This example is really a reminder for me more than anything else. A lot of people struggle with their faith. It's difficult to empathize when your own faith is secure. But that's what mercy asks of us … to really listen to their doubt and fear … to reassure, encourage, and give hope … and to do so patiently.

We need to realize that coming to faith, or returning to faith, is a process. We need to allow time for a person to work it out and come around, and time for the Spirit to help them see the light. We need to hang with them, despite our frustration, and resist the temptation to shake them and shout, 'Why don't you get it?'

In his first letter today St. John offers us all an important reminder. If we want to be sure we love the children of God, and being merciful is nothing more than an act of love, then we must simply love God by keeping God’s commandments.

It makes perfect sense when you remember that Jesus said all the commandments in the law could be summed up by two: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself. In turn then, all the commandments in the law are simply concrete, detailed ways to love God and / or be merciful to God’s children.

A couple of chapters before today’s first reading, The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the early Christians devoted themselves to a communal life of prayer. Praying for others is a great way to be merciful. There's a wonderful novena to the Divine Mercy that intercedes for all humanity.

Rev. Michael G. Cambi 2 4/15/2012 We concluded that novena after the vigil mass yesterday, but you can pray the novena or just the Divine Mercy Chaplet anytime … let me know if you need a copy, or call the office. If you're willing to pray but a few minutes a day, you can be a powerful channel of God's mercy.

All these things come under the category of spiritual works of mercy. Well there's another category called the corporal works of mercy … things like feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, etc.

The early Christians were into this too, as is recorded in today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles. To ensure there was no needy person in the community, those with material resources sold all their stuff and gave the proceeds to the apostles, who shared it equitably according to each one’s need.

So you're thinking, "But Father, doesn't that sound a bit too much like communism?" Maybe a little, but without the bad stuff. First, it's not about an atheistic state, it's all about God.

Second, there's no willingness to sacrifice the dignity or well being of any one person for the sake of the common good. Rather, the whole community is willing to sacrifice itself … for the good of individual members.

What are we willing to sacrifice for mercy's sake? Will we at least offer our excess time and treasure to meet the needs of others? Will we go even further and sacrifice some of what we need, for those who need even more?

Remember the parable of the Pharisee and the publican? The Pharisee assumes his prominent place in the temple and prays, "Thank God, I'm not like the rest of sinful humanity!" But the publican stands off at a distance, and without so much as raising his eyes to heaven prays, "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

Perhaps on this Divine Mercy Sunday, we could offer our own humble prayer with the spirit of that simple man, "Lord, be merciful to me, and show me how to show mercy, to all your faithful people."

Rev. Michael G. Cambi 3 4/15/2012