Second Sunday of Easter
Act of the Apostels 5, 12-16
Rev.1,9-11.12-13.17.19
Jn 20, 19-31
Today we celebrate the second Sunday
of the Easter and holy Catholic church also celebrates it as Divine
Mercy Sunday. This Sunday demands all Christians to experience the
mercy of God (The God-experience) in our lives and share that
experience to others (giving God to others) in every walk of our
lives.
Jesus our master didn't send his disciples to the world just like that after the crucifixion or resurrection. But Jesus knows for sure if and if only, they experience him personally, the disciples will be able to bear witness to him with total conviction even if the life is demanded. That is what we see from last week starting from Easter vigil till today, our Lord appears to the disciples and strengthens their faith. Jesus says, "As the father sent me,so am i sending you to the world" and breathes on them and gives prove to them.
☆ How can we experience God?
When I was doing my philosophical studies in India we had a young and inspiring professor namely Mathew atumkal who used to be with us even in recreation out side the class . Once he told us "I am sure that you all will become priests but make sure before becoming priest you must have an experience of God".and he really meant it. Because after all we are going to share the people of God what we have experienced from him. If we don't have what are going to share?
St.Thomas the forerunner of system of catholic theology.
St.Thomas, being one among the disciple, had not got the experience of resurrected Lord but all the other said, "we have seen the Lord". This should have made him so sad, and that was why he said with great faith of getting the experience of resurrected Jesus, "unless and until l see and put my finger in his wounded side I will not believe. And he got an experience of God and proclaimed, "my God and my Lord" and went for and wide in sharing. That is the method catholic theology follows till today ie..The faith seeking understanding, not understanding seeking faith. It is our doubt with great faith to understand mystery should encourage us to come more closely and that will naturally lead us to personal encounter with Jesus through prayer,study of the word of God and as a frequenting of sacraments. Tus each one of us as disciple or son presenting our own sinfulness demand the experience of God in his mercy and proclaim "My Lord and My God".
How can we give that experience to the people? Jesus is the face of mercy of the father._ Holy Father Francis.
Jesus our master didn't send his disciples to the world just like that after the crucifixion or resurrection. But Jesus knows for sure if and if only, they experience him personally, the disciples will be able to bear witness to him with total conviction even if the life is demanded. That is what we see from last week starting from Easter vigil till today, our Lord appears to the disciples and strengthens their faith. Jesus says, "As the father sent me,so am i sending you to the world" and breathes on them and gives prove to them.
☆ How can we experience God?
When I was doing my philosophical studies in India we had a young and inspiring professor namely Mathew atumkal who used to be with us even in recreation out side the class . Once he told us "I am sure that you all will become priests but make sure before becoming priest you must have an experience of God".and he really meant it. Because after all we are going to share the people of God what we have experienced from him. If we don't have what are going to share?
St.Thomas the forerunner of system of catholic theology.
St.Thomas, being one among the disciple, had not got the experience of resurrected Lord but all the other said, "we have seen the Lord". This should have made him so sad, and that was why he said with great faith of getting the experience of resurrected Jesus, "unless and until l see and put my finger in his wounded side I will not believe. And he got an experience of God and proclaimed, "my God and my Lord" and went for and wide in sharing. That is the method catholic theology follows till today ie..The faith seeking understanding, not understanding seeking faith. It is our doubt with great faith to understand mystery should encourage us to come more closely and that will naturally lead us to personal encounter with Jesus through prayer,study of the word of God and as a frequenting of sacraments. Tus each one of us as disciple or son presenting our own sinfulness demand the experience of God in his mercy and proclaim "My Lord and My God".
How can we give that experience to the people? Jesus is the face of mercy of the father._ Holy Father Francis.
The world has sinned so much so it fell short of
God's love and forgiveness . This way we also are deprived and made
ourselves not worthy of God's grace,love and
forgiveness. forgetting everting He just lavishes on us
the forgiveness and love in his boundless mercy . As a
result of His mercy, He sent his only son for the
redemption of the world. Thus Jesus our Lord
became the face of mercy of God, the father to the people of the
world. And that face of Marcy of father, Jesus commands
us to be the very face of Jesus in mercy
to the people of the world by saying, "be merciful as your
heavenly father is merciful".
☆ To share the experience of God, deriving from Holy Bible, our church teaches us to involve in works of mercy proactively.
☆ our action in every moment of our lives must show that we are redeemed people. Must become another Christ in word and deed.
☆ To share the experience of God, deriving from Holy Bible, our church teaches us to involve in works of mercy proactively.
☆ our action in every moment of our lives must show that we are redeemed people. Must become another Christ in word and deed.
* Mercy is shown without
deservedness, that is why this is called mercy. we have received
mercy from God in this way, so in turn must forgive people in mercy.
* received(mercy,forgiveness,love) freely from God ;give freely to the people in the name of God.
*use the blessings for the good of people otherwise you will lose the blessings.
Through all this let people recognise that you are the face of Jesus' mercy.
* received(mercy,forgiveness,love) freely from God ;give freely to the people in the name of God.
*use the blessings for the good of people otherwise you will lose the blessings.
Through all this let people recognise that you are the face of Jesus' mercy.
fr. Vijayakumar MMI
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