2026 Cycle A - Divine Mercy Sunday
Readings
2nd Sunday of EasterActs5:2:42-47; Psalm 118: 2-4,,13-15,22-24; 1 Peter 1: 3-9; John 20:19-31
Homily Theme
Faith in His Mercy
As I studied the lives of the great Saints I discovered the greater the Saint the more that Saint was conscious of the severity of his or her sins. Yet, they were also even more conscious of God’s great mercy, which cleansed them of their sins and restored them to His Grace and a life of holiness. There is not one of us on earth without sin, and some of us have sinned more grievously than others, yet there is no one who can say that they are too sinful to be forgiven.
The very first gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church was not at Pentecost: it was that first Easter Sunday when He gave the Apostles the power to . It was not lumped together with all the other special gifts of the Holy Spirit: it was bestowed on the apostles individually by the risen Christ Himself. Since it was that important to Jesus, shouldn’t it be that important to us? When was the last time you went to confession and received this great Sacrament of God’s mercy? If we had some life threatening sickness wouldn’t we seek out a doctor for a cure? The Church has received the power from the Risen Christ Himself to cure those who are dead in sin. This death, if not cured, will last for all eternity. Come this week to the fountain of God’s mercy.
Make a good confession soon.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus seeks out Thomas. He had sinned by demanding proof of the Resurrection. He sinned because of His lack of faith in the risen Christ, yet many more of us sin because of our lack of faith in God’s mercy. Most Catholics seem to have lost faith in the need for the Sacrament of Confession; this is the reason that Jesus appeared to St. Faustina and asked her to spread a devotion to His Divine Mercy. Saint John Paul II the Great, , was the one who canonized St.Faustina and gave us this new Feast to remind us of the infinite Mercy pouring out from the Heart of Jesus for all mankind.
Here in the United States we believe that our Presidents have the power to pardon the most hardened criminals of their crimes, which means that although these persons are guilty, they are now free. Then have faith that the Infinite, Almighty God can do as much and more you? It was this power that Jesus breathed on the apostles when He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven.” It is this same power that the Church wishes to use for each of us as she reminds us of His Divine Mercy this Sunday.
Pope John Paul II proclaimed this Sunday to be Divine Mercy Sunday, a day on which a Plenary Indulgence can be obtained. (A Pardon) for all those who make a good confession and repent of their sins. Will you accept the challenge?