The daily Word of God
Sunday, April 27th, 2025
Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter)
Jn 20:19-31 “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
First Reading:Acts 5:12-16
Many signs and wonders were done among the people
at the hands of the apostles.
They were all together in Solomon’s portico.
None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them.
Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord,
great numbers of men and women, were added to them.
Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets
and laid them on cots and mats
so that when Peter came by,
at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.
A large number of people from the towns
in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered,
bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits,
and they were all cured.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
R./ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R./ Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R./ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R./ Alleluia.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R./ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R./ Alleluia.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
R./ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R./ Alleluia.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R./ Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. or: R./ Alleluia.
Second Reading: Rev 1:9-13, 17-19
I, John, your brother, who share with you
the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus,
found myself on the island called Patmos
because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus.
I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day
and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said,
“Write on a scroll what you see.”
Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me,
and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,
wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.
When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.
He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.
I am the first and the last, the one who lives.
Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.
I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.
Write down, therefore, what you have seen,
and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”
Gospel Reading: Jn 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace and blessings.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Mercy. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter and is known as Divine Mercy Sunday. It was first added to the liturgical calendar by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski for his Archdiocese of Kraków (1985), and then some other Polish bishops did the same in their dioceses. At the request of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Pope John Paul II made this feast official for all dioceses in Poland in 1995. Later, on April 30, 2000, the day St. Faustina Kowalska was canonized, the Pope extended this feast to the whole Church.
Throughout this Easter Octave, we have reflected on the Lord’s appearances to different people. These were moments of life, joy, and reunion with the One who loved us to the end. These encounters gave strength to move forward, as we will see again at Pentecost.
For now, today’s readings show us how the early Christian community began to grow. This is important for us—we should pay attention to the details, because we are called to live like them.
To begin with, they were united. That was necessary because they faced a lot of opposition. They stayed together and prayed together. In that, we are similar—we also gather to pray. These days, after the death of Pope Francis, and as we wait for the conclave to elect a new pope, Catholics all over the world are united in prayer—for his eternal rest and for the future of the Church. You can feel this unity everywhere.
It seems that non-believers liked the Christians. They seemed kind and lived differently. But still, people were afraid to join them. It was risky, because going against the tide has always been dangerous. The persecutions Christians have suffered show this clearly. Faithfulness is tested in hard times.
Maybe because of that faithfulness and perseverance, many people started to approach the Church. The number of believers grew. Probably because the Apostles were doing the same things Jesus did—healing the sick, freeing people from evil spirits, helping others to live free and happy lives. The Risen Lord gave his healing power to his disciples.
The book of Revelation was written at the end of the first century, during Emperor Domitian’s persecution, after Nero’s time. While the emperor demanded public worship, Christians were reminded that only the Risen Lord should be at the center of their communities. He is the only King who leads the Church with his Word; the Priest who offers the only sacrifice that pleases God—his own life; and the fulfillment of all the prophecies.
So, the question for our community today is: Who do we place at the center of our lives? The Risen Lord and his Word—or someone or something else? Do we worship Christ, or other idols?
The Gospel also speaks to us about the importance of community. Outside of it, Thomas couldn’t meet the Risen Jesus. But when he was with the others, the encounter happened—and he made his profession of faith. Faced with fear and doubt, Jesus brought peace. That same peace gave courage to the martyrs, even in the face of death.
If we think about it, all the Apostles doubted—not just Thomas. In fact, through Thomas, St. Luke wants to help us deal with the doubts many believers have—especially those who never saw the Risen Jesus, not even the first disciples, because they lived long after them. It was hard for many to believe. They wanted to touch Jesus’ wounds, just to be sure. Many Christians today feel the same.
Through these stories of Jesus’ appearances—on the first day of the week, the same day we now gather to worship—the Gospel gives us the key to understanding what it means to believe in the resurrection. It wasn’t something physical, but something supernatural, invisible to the eyes, yet real for those who have faith. That’s why: “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” The glorified, risen body is not limited by time or space. It goes wherever the Spirit goes. It becomes present wherever the Spirit is.
When we ask, “What did the disciples see?” we can answer: they didn’t see with their natural eyes. They saw because God allowed them to see—to “mysteriously” witness the truth of the Risen Lord. Jesus is not in one place, but everywhere; not in one time, but in all times; not in one person, but in every person. He has been given all power in heaven and on earth. To see the Lord is to see everything—humanity, history, nature, and ourselves in a new light. It’s to see God in a new way.
Seeing the Risen Jesus is only possible if He appears to us. Without His appearance, we cannot see. It is the Father who takes the first step: He shows us Jesus, the blessed fruit of His womb, His only Son. Today, we are Christians because we have received the grace of a real Easter appearance. The Risen Lord continues to appear. To “see” this way is to believe—to feel changed, reborn, like a new creation.
True faith does not mean never seeing. It means seeing differently—letting the Lord’s Revelation and Appearance open our eyes, break our limits, and take away our blindness. That’s why those who truly see are “blessed.” We have the Gospel, where Christ’s voice still echoes. That same voice the sheep recognize and follow. That voice that still calls to us, speaking of God’s mercy—just as Pope Francis did.
We are the blessed ones who believe without seeing. Just like the disciples, we are invited to bring the peace of Christ to others, to heal with our words and actions, and to boldly share the Good News of Jesus. May we do so, Lord. Amen.
Your brother in faith,
Alejandro Carbajo, C.M.F.
Greetings (See Second Reading)
We are gathered in the name of Jesus,
the First and the Last,
the Living One who lives for ever,
our Lord and our God.
May his peace and joy be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. The Risen Lord Present among His People
Why do we gather every Sunday to celebrate the eucharist of the Lord? For the same reason that the first Christians changed their day of worship from the Jewish Sabbath to the Christian Sunday. For Christ rose from the dead on Sunday, the first day of the week. It became "the Lord's day," the day on which they began to celebrate that Christ is risen and alive in the community of his faithful, as he is present among us now. He is real and alive among us, he is our companion on the road of life and we recognize him in the community of the Church. May the Lord Jesus give us faith to sense his presence.
B. See, I Am Alive
We accept in faith, perhaps with difficulty and hesitation, that Jesus is alive among his people today. Yes, he lives in his communities and he is right here among us. Yet like the apostles we too would like very much to see the Lord, to become more aware and more convinced that he is here, alive, standing by our side, moving us forward by his Holy Spirit. But we don't see him except with eyes of faith. That is what real, deep faith is all about: not seeing and yet believing. We recognize Jesus as our Lord and God and with him we thank our Father.
C. Peace Be with You
When are you at peace in life? I hope it is not when nobody disturbs but when you are living in the right relationship with God and yourself and with your neighbor. It is not always a peace easy to find. The key to all real peace is the peace Jesus offers us; he states this even three times today: It is the peace of forgiveness, the peace of his nearness, the peace of your faith. Then all the rest will follow. Let us ask our Lord here in this eucharist for that peace that no one can take away from us.
Penitential Act
First of all, let us ask the Lord
to give us the peace of his forgiveness.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you offer to all humanity
the peace of reconciliation with God:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, you want us to be reconciled
with all our brothers and sisters:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you want us to find
genuine peace with ourselves:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Open us to the fullness of life, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
Bring us to the joys of everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray
that our faith in the risen Lord
may be the moving force of our lives
(PAUSE)
God of life and our loving Father,
our eyes have not seen your Son Jesus Christ
and our fingers have not touched the scars of his wounds,
yet we have come together here in his name.
Make our faith in him deep and strong and lasting,
that the Spirit of Jesus may breathe new life in us
and make us look with new eyes
at our world and at people,
so that we can bring them
the peace of the love and the justice of Jesus.
Let people see and taste in us
that Jesus is alive as our risen Lord,
now and for ever. R/ Amen.
General Intercessions
A. The Risen Lord Present among His People
B. See, I Am Alive
Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ for a living faith not merely in his truths but in his person and at his presence among us, and let us say: R/ Lord, help us grow in faith.
- For our shepherds in the faith, that they may place the powers of healing, pardon and peace, entrusted to them by Jesus, in the service of the people of God and of all who seek the truth, let us pray: R/ Lord, help us grow in faith.
- For all those whose faith is tested in darkness and in doubt, that they may encounter the living Lord in their everyday work, in the events of life and in the love and trust of their neighbor, let us pray: R/ Lord, help us grow in faith.
- For the sick and the persecuted and for all who are tried in life, that they may keep trusting in a Lord who heals and gives life, let us pray: R/ Lord, help us grow in faith.
- For those who work for peace and justice in the world and in our country, that the Lord may give them courage and that he may bless their efforts, let us pray: R/ Lord, help us grow in faith.
- For this and all Christian communities, that our faith in Jesus may lead us to have faith in each other's goodness and to be united in love, let us pray: R/ Lord, help us grow in faith.
Lord Jesus Christ, live among us and make us sensitive to your presence in our lives. And let our integrity and love be the sign to all that you are with us now and for ever. R/ Amen.
C. Peace Be with You
"Peace be with you" is Jesus' wish to his disciples. Let us ask him to bring his peace to his Church and to people everywhere. Let us say: R/ Lord, give us your peace.
- Lord Jesus, give your peace to your Church. In all its variety, let it be united in one faith and love, and let it be an agent of reconciliation and peace among all countries and people, we pray: R/ Lord, give us your peace.
- Lord Jesus, give your peace to all those in search of truth, goodness and compassion, that they may discover these in you through the people who have found you and love you, we pray: R/ Lord, give us your peace.
- Lord Jesus, give your peace to all nations. Dispose divided and warring factions to dialogue and to look for ways to settle conflicts in a spirit of justice and cooperation, we pray: R/ Lord, give us your peace.
- Lord Jesus, give your peace to all who suffer. Give them a faith that is strong enough to rise above their fears and pains; and make us stand by their side as sympathetic friends, we pray: R/ Lord, give us your peace.
- Lord Jesus, give your peace to our communities. Make us aware of your presence among us, that our faith and love may keep growing and that we may share what we have and are, we pray: R/ Lord, give us your peace.
Risen Lord, let your joy and your peace be ours all the days you give us. Be with us now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
your Son came among his disciples
and brought them peace.
In these signs of bread and wine
let him come among us,
his disciples today,
to bring us the peace of his presence
and to strengthen our faith.
For he is our Lord and our God
now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
We cannot see the Lord with our eyes nor can we touch him with our hands. But we know that he is alive and we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
With Jesus present among us
we pray his prayer of trust to the Father: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us Lord, from every evil
and grant us peace in our day.
Reassure us in our trials
and help us to go without fear
the way of the victorious cross,
until you take us up in your eternal light
on the day of the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, our risen Lord,
whom we acclaim as our Lord and our God.
Happy are we that he comes to us
and stays with us. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
we thank you for Jesus, your risen Son.
He who loves us is alive.
Give us eyes of faith to see
that all that we are and do
has a meaning and a purpose,
and that your Son is with us and guides us
through our darkness and hesitations
to the fullness of love and joy.
Let him stay with us
now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
If only we had a deep faith
in the presence of the Lord among us, his people!
How different our relationships would be
with God, with one another,
even with ourselves.
Then we would really have the peace
of which Jesus insistently speaks in today's gospel.
Let this faith be alive in our community,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in the peace of Christ
and let the people around you share in it. Alleluia.
R/ Thanks be to God. Alleluia.
