23 April 2017
2nd Sunday of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday
1st Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Psalm 117:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
The Gospel of John 20:19-31
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’ Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.
Why did Thomas Demand a Sign?
Thomas was not just healing the doubt in his own heart but that of all. Destined to carry the news to the pagans, as a conscientious messenger he sought out the foundations on which he would base his proclamation of so important a truth of faith. In fact, since Jesus had entered while the doors were shut and was thought to be a ghost by his disciples, he could not have proved it was really he to those who doubted except by the sufferings of his body, the marks of his wounds. He came and said to Thomas: “Put your finger and see my hands and put your hand in my side that, opened up once more by you, these wounds should spread the faith over all the world just as they have poured out water for purification and blood for humankind’s redemption” (cf. Jn 19,34). Thomas replied: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas declares, not just this human body but the sufferings endured by that body testify that Christ is God and Lord.
Cf. Saint Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 84
Saints of the week
Mon 24 St. Mary of Cleophas and all disciples of Christ (Diocese of Jerusalem)
Tues 25 St. Mark the Evangelist, Feast
Thurs 27 St. Simon Bishop and comp. martyrs (Diocese of Jerusalem)
Fri 28 St Peter Chanel, Priest, Martyr; St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, Priest
Sat 29 St Catherine of Siena, Virgin, Doctor Feast
Next Sunday’s Readings
Acts 2:14, 22-33
Psalm 15: 1-2, 5,7-11
1 Peter 1:17-21
Luke 24:13-35
Psalter Week II
Divine Mercy Sunday
“O God, your mercy knows no bounds and the treasure of your goodness is infinite…” “O God, you reveal your almighty power above all by showing mercy and forgiveness.” In these prayers Holy Mother Church humbly and faithfully sings of Divine Mercy. Indeed, God’s great patience with the human race in general and with each individual person shines out in a special way when sins and moral failures are forgiven by Almighty God Himself and the guilty are readmitted in a fatherlike way to his friendship, which they deservedly lost.
A plenary indulgence is granted under the conditions of sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter, in any church or chapel, and detesting any sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honour of the Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament (exposed or reserved), recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout invocation to the mercy of Jesus, e.g., “Jesus, I trust in you.” A partial indulgence, granted to the faithful who, at least with a contrite heart, pray to the merciful Lord Jesus a legitimately approved invocation. Those who cannot go to church may obtain this plenary indulgence if, totally detesting sin, and with the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, will recite the Our Father and the Creed and a pious invocation to the Mercy of Jesus before an image of Our Merciful Lord.
Cf. Apostolic Penitentiary,
Indulgences of the Divine Mercy
NEWS
CARITAS PAPHOS: We need nοn-perishable food to help the poor in the Paphos area. Prayers and Donations welcomed.
Organ recital at Agia Kyriaki: Mon May 1st, 6pm. Collection to help the Hospice. All welcome.
Grand Day Out in Kyrenia: Fri 5 May, departing at 8am. €30 includes coach. Raffle. Call Mona 99494140, or Linda 99562387.
Information & Coffee Morning Wednesday 26/4 10 -12 at Archangel Michael Hospice Sponsored by Blevins Franks there will be a talk on Brexit, Probate, & pensions. Call Linda 99562387 to reserve.
Archangel Michael Hospice: Volunteers needed in the areas of reception, nursing assistants and cafeteria. Contact Mona 99494140
Mass Times HERE
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