Gospel Reflections for April 19 2020
Only Jesus can enter a locked room.
The disciples are hiding in fear of the same people who crucified Jesus.
In that ancient and cruel time, if a leader was convicted and executed, so were all of his followers. No wonder they huddled in a locked room.
Now they hear Jesus has risen from the dead! What will He do now? They could only expect His swift revenge. Doesn’t anyone who has ever been hurt? They feared Romans and Jesus at the same time!
Yet, when Jesus finally arrives His first words are amazingly …Peace be with you! No one expected that! Jesus is not interested in their punishment, but only a changed life for the better. He wants you to leave behind sins that only cause you and others pain and then finally live His life of joy. That is what mercy is …a promise of no revenge …in exchange for your promise of a changed life.
Only Jesus can arrive inside the locked room of your heart, that deep place where you might remember your worst sins, or even doubts about Jesus, as Thomas had in this Gospel story. Just take Jesus at His word and believe in His mercy and grace that can help you change.
Sister Faustina was a Polish nun who received a vision of this merciful Jesus in the 1930’s. It is the famous “Divine Mercy” image that Pope St. John Paul encouraged all parishes to display on this Sunday. He had lived through the horrors of Nazi Germany and Communist Russia, two evil examples of the betrayal of God’s love.
He knew the world needed this message of mercy. Perhaps you can already see it now…
Have you ever seen the entire world act together in unison for health and safety before? The world has never been more united in courage and compassion than it is now!
Good for all of us to gratefully affirm on this Divine Mercy Sunday
We are still living the Stay at Home restrictions. Hopefully, they will soon be safely lifted and we can, with confidence, be with one another as before, and especially at Mass.
This Gospel affirms that Jesus, and His gift of mercy, can still enter your home even if you must stay inside. More important, His mercy can enter your heart to encourage you to deepen your faith, express your love for your family even more, and strengthen your hope and courage as we all face this remarkable time together.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
How beautiful Father as we self quarantine and lockdown ouselves to protect those we love. your words remind us that we can’t lockdown the love of Jesus and wherever we are or what situation we find ouselves in, that love will appear on the inside of that closed door. All we have to do is ask. God Bless you on this Divine Mercy Sunday.
May God bless you and your family as well!
Beautiful words Father Dave!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our Jesus always being in our precious hearts, forgiving us and giving his precious mercy!!! Noone can taken Him from us for he is beautifullyliving in our hearts!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it, loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our Jesus, our Mary and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you for bringing our Jesus to us!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Thank you Jesus, I love my Father! God be with us all now always and forever. Thank you Fr. Dave. Brings comfort especially because I miss going to Mass at St. Bruno and taking the university courses. Have been watching EWTN everyday, maybe one day you can be a guess in Bookmarked and talk about your books. Take care and thank you for staying in our lives during this time. Always in my prayers! God bless!
Thank you for your kind words!
Thank you for your beautiful words and the confirmation that Jesus loves us no matter what. Have a beautiful Divine Mercy Sunday Father Dave. Each weekly sermon from you lifts me up even though I can’t be in church for now. 😇
I pray we can all go back to church soon! I don’t think it will be much longer.
You wrote: “In that ancient and cruel time, if a leader was convicted and executed, so were all of his followers. No wonder they huddled in a locked room. Now they hear Jesus has risen from the dead! What will He do now? They could only expect His swift revenge.”
I’ve always loved how you give the backstory on the times and parables about when Jesus lived. You’re back on your game with this, Fr. Dave!
Thank you!