Do not be faithless but believe. Fr Sylvester had a few thoughts to share with the people on this Sunday.  “How did the early church grow?” he asked.  “Were the disciples all fired up immediately?  No.  They needed extra help, right, like we all do, all the time.”   You could say that Divine Mercy Sunday is celebrating God’s mercy as that extra something, but something that is always available to us.  There is the special Divine Mercy devotion attached to this which is practiced in many places.   It focuses on God’s mercy and our trust in God as we  acknowledge ourselves as sinners in need of mercy and forgiveness.  We priests have been given special sacramental powers to forgive sins in the name of God.   In all humility I really wish more people would appreciate what that can mean for them.  It can be a real way of ‘touching’ Jesus who heals and forgives.”    

Reflect, share and act. Scripture. “Put your finger here and see my hands and put out your hand and place it in my side; do not be faithless but believe.”  Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God.” Read John 20:19-31.   Pope Francis. The Church is commissioned to proclaim the mercy of God, the beating heart of the Gospel, which in its own way must penetrate the mind and heart of every person.  The Bride of Christ must pattern her behaviour after the Son of God who goes out to everyone without exception. It will become possible for the balm of mercy to reach everyone, believers and those far away, as a sign that the kingdom of God is already present in our midst.  AL309.