C
cheeto1
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usccb.org/nab/readings/041909.shtml
Here we are on the mysterious “Divine Mercy Sunday”, one month to the day after
the feast of St. Joseph last month. Will the readings relate to the Divine Mercy of
Jesus?
Well, in the first reading, believers share all their possessions. And not just share
but don’t even call their possessions their own. I am sure I could never feel this way
about my toothbrush! And who among us would sell our home and give the money
to the church? Even if we did, would the church give it to the needy? I think more
likely they would buy neat stuff, do maintenance, or hire additional employees.
Where did all the believers live when they sold their homes? What could be more
merciful than selling your own home to help the needy? Wouldn’t you now be
homeless yourself?
In the psalm, it says, “His mercy endures forever”.
The second reading doesn’t seem to relate to Divine Mercy.
In the gospel, Jesus gives divine mercy to Thomas. Why does He do this for
Thomas and not for the whole world? Thomas believed because he had seen,
but maybe if others saw, they still wouldn’t believe. Thomas is the one who said
to the rest of the disciples, “come, let us die with Him”, when Jesus was on His
way to raise Lazarus from the dead. This he said before they understood completely
who Jesus was, and they didn’t know what it meant “to rise from the dead”.
Thomas first proved in his life that he had faith without seeing. I think this is why
Jesus showed him this great mercy. Do you think there were ever martyrs who
said to one another, “come, let us die with Him”, knowing that in their death, they
were dying with Jesus?
The thing that really strikes me is that right at the end of the gospel, it says,
“that through this belief, you may have life in His Name.” Why doesn’t it say,
“you may have life through Him” or “through His life, death, and resurrection”,
or even “through His Holy Spirit”? What does it really mean when they say,
“In His Name”? It is a name.
So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents:
Here we are on the mysterious “Divine Mercy Sunday”, one month to the day after
the feast of St. Joseph last month. Will the readings relate to the Divine Mercy of
Jesus?
Well, in the first reading, believers share all their possessions. And not just share
but don’t even call their possessions their own. I am sure I could never feel this way
about my toothbrush! And who among us would sell our home and give the money
to the church? Even if we did, would the church give it to the needy? I think more
likely they would buy neat stuff, do maintenance, or hire additional employees.
Where did all the believers live when they sold their homes? What could be more
merciful than selling your own home to help the needy? Wouldn’t you now be
homeless yourself?
In the psalm, it says, “His mercy endures forever”.
The second reading doesn’t seem to relate to Divine Mercy.
In the gospel, Jesus gives divine mercy to Thomas. Why does He do this for
Thomas and not for the whole world? Thomas believed because he had seen,
but maybe if others saw, they still wouldn’t believe. Thomas is the one who said
to the rest of the disciples, “come, let us die with Him”, when Jesus was on His
way to raise Lazarus from the dead. This he said before they understood completely
who Jesus was, and they didn’t know what it meant “to rise from the dead”.
Thomas first proved in his life that he had faith without seeing. I think this is why
Jesus showed him this great mercy. Do you think there were ever martyrs who
said to one another, “come, let us die with Him”, knowing that in their death, they
were dying with Jesus?
The thing that really strikes me is that right at the end of the gospel, it says,
“that through this belief, you may have life in His Name.” Why doesn’t it say,
“you may have life through Him” or “through His life, death, and resurrection”,
or even “through His Holy Spirit”? What does it really mean when they say,
“In His Name”? It is a name.
So what struck you about today’s readings? :bible1::twocents: