April 12, 2015
Sunday 2nd Sunday of Easter 1st Reading:
Acts 4:32-35
2nd Reading: 1 John 5:1-6
Gospel: Jn 20:19–31
On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews, but Jesus came and stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace be with you”; then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples kept looking at the Lord and were full of joy.
Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” After saying this he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.”
Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer.”
Thomas then said, “You are my Lord and my God.” Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me, don’t you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe.”
There were many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; believe and you will have life through his Name.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
On page 669 of St. Faustina’s diary we read of Jesus’ promise of total remission of sins and punishment to those who go to confession and take communion on the day of the Divine Mercy. Pope John Paul II, after canonizing Sister Faustina on April 30, 2000, declared the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.
This opportunity for gaining plenary indulgence becomes too precious to miss in the light of our distinction between forgiveness and restitution. Forgiveness of sin still carries with it the responsibility of satisfying justice by paying for the damage of sin, if not in this world, in Purgatory. But when plenary indulgence is granted, even the punishment due to the damages of sin is also remitted.
We can get that singular privilege of total remission of sins today by confessing our sins. — Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
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