Divine Mercy Sunday Homily

Today we come to the conclusion of the Octave of Easter and we now celebrate what has become known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Starting this year with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on December 8th, we will begin to hear a lot about God's mercy. This is because our Holy Father, Francis, has decided to make this the start of what will be known as the "Year of Mercy." Francis stated concerning this upcoming year: "Wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy."

Of course an oasis is an isolated area of vegetation that can be found in a desert which typically springs up around a body of water. Wherever Christ cannot be found we should easily be able to proclaim that life is not a possibility and thus we have been thrust into a desert. Through sin, we of course, cannot proclaim that we know Christ for who He is. Sin after all in the words of Saint Augustine is the lack of good that ought to be there. Despite this fact, Christ always remains and His love for us is abundant. Wherever Christ is present this oasis of mercy springs up and is able to sustain life abundantly. If we find that we are walking around lost in the vastness of the desert maybe brought about through our repeated sin, maybe through a lack faith brought about from a tragedy or other hardship, maybe just because we have fallen away from our faith through laziness, or whatever else it may be we must realize and proclaim that God's mercy is great.

We do not have to be content with wondering about lost inside of the desert because Christ is merciful and just and thus no matter what we have done He desires that we return to Him and in return trust in Him fully. I am sure that all of us here might know someone who has lost their hope and trust in Christ and also too in the Holy Catholic Church. Again, each of us must as Francis has said lead all people to the oasis of God's mercy. Without being with Christ our hearts will never be content because each of us has a longing to be with the truth. A separation from that which is true, when we know it to be so, is most difficult to bear, but does not have to be this way because Christ's mercy is great.

 

Our readings today are filled with this message of Christ's mercy. We know that Thomas doubted the news of the Resurrection, which we all should be able to state that we have done too.  All of us after all are sinful, all of us after all have doubted, all of us after all have been burdened with great weight as Thomas was. Despite all of the doubt, all of the fears, and all of the temptations that plague our souls we also join with Thomas who now looks upon the wounds of Christ who is Resurrected and is in returned healed. None of us would be healed nor would there be an oasis of mercy if everything ended at the cross, but instead we can be healed and there is an oasis of mercy because Christ has triumphed over the tomb. Thomas is able to discover this with His interaction with Christ and thus He was able to realize and be made one with the truth that sprang forth when water and blood flowed from Christ's side.

The image of Divine Mercy expresses all of this to us. In this image Christ has triumphed over the tomb because He still bears the marks of the Resurrection. From His side springs forth both water and blood. Water symbolic of the Sacrament of Baptism and thus the new life that was begun in us when original sin was washed away our soul and we were incorporated into Christ's Church. Blood which is symbolic of the Most Holy Eucharist which sustains our souls throughout life's journey. Whenever we worthily receive communion we allow ourself to be sustained from this oasis of God's mercy. Finally Christ has His hand raised as the priest does in giving absolution to the sinful in the Sacrament of Confession. If we are wondering about lost in the state sin and doubt we do not have to be content with remaining there, but instead we can intrust ourself to this most wondrous Sacrament of God's mercy. In the pope's word: "Jesus Christ is the face of mercy" therefore through the face of Christ may we come to faithfully proclaim the words at the bottom of the Divine Mercy image: "Jesus, I trust in You."