2nd Sunday of Easter or Sunday of Divine Mercy
April 11, 2021
Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." John 20:29
Today is the 2nd Sunday of Easter and also known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000. To learn more about this special feast day, click onto the links provided and watch the video.
The above video below is courtesy of Catholic Kids Media; please support their channel if you are able: https://www.patreon.com/catholickidsmedia OR Venmo: @catholickidsmedia
First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
Today's first reading is a beautiful account of how the early Church really took care of one another. It begins with "The community of believers was of one heart and mind." There was no competition between them; what each one had, was for the other and because of this mindset and way of life, "There was no needy person among them..."
This is the Church that Jesus intended and still intends today! Plain and simply Jesus tells us and gives us the great commandment, love God and love your neighbor. This love is to be a generous love of sharing what we have with those who are need, especially the poorest of the poor.
Help us Lord to share what we have, and realize that all "we" "have" is a gift from you.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love is everlasting.
Here is another Psalm that is a fitting daily mantra...thanking God every single day, no matter what. We thank God most especially for is unconditional love for each and every one of us!....His love is everlasting!
Second Reading: 1John 5:1-6
In today's second reading we are again reminded about God's unconditional love for us. Jesus calls us to love God and love our neighbor. This is what the Ten Commandments are all about, loving God and neighbor. We are given the gift of the Ten Commandments to help us live a meaningful, moral and faith-filled life...this leads to an abundant life.
Gospel: John 20:19-31
After the resurrection, Jesus's disciples went into hiding because they did not understand the repercussions of the resurrection and they were afraid for their lives. They hid themselves behind locked doors and once again, Jesus appears in their midst with the greeting, "Peace be with you." This is a strong and clear message from Jesus not only for his disciples, but for us today. The Risen Christ brings us a message of peace and of hope. His resurrection has victory over sin and death. As resurrection people, we are called to be people of this same peace and hope.
We have not seen the Risen Christ in the flesh, but He is here! He is with us in the Eucharist at Mass, he is with us in the Blessed Sacrament, he is with us every time we celebrate a sacrament, he is with us in each other! We are the "living tabernacles" of the Risen Lord, especially when we receive Him into our bodies at Holy Communion. We are called to greet our brothers and sisters with this same peace, "Peace be with you."
"Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." Amen!
YOUR SUNDAY RESOURCES:
SAINT OF THE DAY
Sun. Apr. 11: St. Stanislaus
Mon. Apr. 12: St. Teresa of Los Andes
Tues. Apr. 13: St. Martin I
Weds. Apr. 14: Bl. Peter Gonzalez
Thurs. Apr. 15: Bl. Caesar de Bus
Fri. Apr. 16: St. Bernadette Soubirous
Sat. Apr. 17: St. Benedict Joseph Labre
We believe in the
communion of saints!
Holy men and women of God,
pray for us!
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Pope Francis encourages us to pray this prayer.
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself as father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.
show yourself as father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.
