April 27, 2025 John 20: 19-31 Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday Fear can be a powerful, even paralyzing emotion. The opening scene in today’s Gospel describes the disciples huddled in a locked room in fear, probably still in shock as well, following Jesus’ crucifixion. They suddenly realized that Jesus was in the room with them. “Peace be with you, He said!” Did He perhaps continue by reminding them of the message He gave them at the Last Supper: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” He promised them an advocate, the Holy Spirit. In today’s Gospel, Jesus fulfills this promise: “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them. Whose sins you retain, they are retained.” Is this gift, this power, this manifestation of God’s mercy superior even to the wonders about which we learn in today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles? There we listen to the description of how the crowds were drawn to the apostles and “they were all cured.” We also witness Jesus’ mercy and patience in responding to Thomas’ specific and even arrogant demand. He invites Thomas […]