Second Sunday of Easter [C]

April 24, 2022

John 20:19-31

Pope John Paul II has declared the Second Easter Sunday as the Divine Mercy Sunday. On April 30, 2000, the declaration took place when John Paul II canonized Sr. Faustina Kowalski. Since then, the devotion to the Divine Mercy has grown exponentially worldwide. Nowadays, many of us do not only pray the angelus prayer, but every three in the afternoon, the hour of Jesus’ death, recite the prayer of divine mercy. More and more people make divine mercy chaplet as daily devotion aside from the rosary. Many communities gather together and organize novena to the Divine Mercy. But, do you know what mercy is? And, why does it has to be the 2nd Sunday of Easter?

The Oxford dictionary gives us an exciting definition of mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. A story may illustrate this definition of mercy. During one of the Napoleonic wars, one of the young French soldiers deserted the army and fled the battlefield. Unfortunately, he got captured. Knowing that his son would be executed, the mother rushed to see Napoleon. She said to the general, “have mercy on my son!” Napoleon immediately replied, “your son’s crime is so heinous. Justice demands his death, and he does not deserve mercy.” The mother then answered, “It is not mercy if he deserves it!”.

Let’s go back to the Biblical Hebrew language. Mercy is related to the word ‘rahamim,’ which is rooted in the word ‘Rahim’ meaning ‘womb.’ Thus, ‘rahamim’ implies a mother’s feelings and attitude toward her children. We know that we have hurt our mothers too often if we try to reflect on our lives and our relationship with our mothers. Since we live in their wombs until we grow to adulthood, we give them countless headaches and heartaches. Yet, despite the terrible things we have done, our good mothers keep accepting and loving us as their children.

Then, why the second Sunday of Easter? This Sunday, the Church always selects the story of resurrection from John, the evangelist. There are some exciting details. The disciples locked themselves in the room because of fear of the Jews. Yet, more than fearing the Jewish authorities, they dreaded Jesus, who returned and took His vengeance. Yet, Jesus came not to bring punishment but forgiveness. Thus, the first thing He said was ‘Peace’! They have peace because Jesus, who has the power to inflict punishment, decides to have mercy on them.

Yet, Jesus does not stop there. He also breathed the Holy Spirit and gave them the divine authority to forgive sins. To teach the true meaning of mercy and forgiveness, Jesus has to suffer the cross, die, and get buried. Jesus teaches them that the worst things may fall upon Jesus, but this hatred, wrath, and vengeance will not have the last say.

We deserve death and hell with so many sins we have committed, but the resurrection points to us that however terrible we treat Jesus, mercy will always triumph. His forgiveness is always ready to embrace us. We need to do one thing: beg for that mercy.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno,OP