Peace and Mercy

Gospel: John 20: 19-31

The topic of divine mercy begs the question as to whether there is any other kind.  We find so precious little of it among human beings, especially in our own day, and so lacking among those claiming to be followers of Jesus.  But today we celebrate mercy, and the Gospel portion of the day provides us with a fitting setting with which to reflect on this topic.

Consider: in the past ten days the men holed up in the upper room today have betrayed Jesus, denied him to others, and abandoned him at his trial and execution.  What is more, they have refused to believe Mary Magdalene and the other women, along with two men from Emmaus who have all seen the risen Lord and have told these men their experiences of him.  And in spite of all this, Jesus appears to these men and extends them the message of peace and reconciliation.  He then instructs them to extend this peace and mercy to others in the world.

Mercy is always something we want for ourselves, but we are so unwilling to extend it to others.  In celebrating divine mercy we cannot do so only for ourselves, but we must celebrate it in the lives of others.  And, we must extend mercy and peace to others in our lives in imitation of and obedience to the One who has showed us mercy and extended peace to us.