The love and fraternity shared by the first Christian community fill us with wonder and admiration. Understanding that their faith, as expressed in communal sharing, the Eucharist and faithfulness to the apostles, prompted the growth of the early Church. This assemblage of love was the fruit of Christ’s action to his apostles after his resurrection in today’s gospel.  Jesus appears to his apostles and twice says, “peace be with you,” emphasizing the need to internally dispose of themselves as his followers as he designates them for the mission. He then breathed on them the Holy Spirit and specially handed them the task of reconciling men and women to God. Christ gave his apostles this privilege to make them channels of his peace and forgiveness; attributes of God’s divine mercy. Similarly, we are to let go of hurts and grievances that we hold against others, stealing our inner peace and stifling our spiritual growth. As we celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy, let us turn to that font of mercy and beg our Lord to forgive our hate and greed, which has decimated our world by senseless wars, hunger, and disease. Mercy is God’s attribute, and one who is merciful has God in him/her.

PRAYER: Merciful God, give us your peace and help us forgive and be gracious to those we think do not deserve mercy, that we may, in turn, obtain your mercy. Amen.