Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed
because you have seen Me?
Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have come to believe.” –John 20:29 (NRSVCE)
“Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of Christ crucified — Christ pours out this mercy on humanity through the sending of the Spirit who, in the Trinity is the Person-Love and is not mercy’s love’s ‘second name’ (cf. Dives in misericordia) understood in it’s deepest and most tender aspect, in its ability to take upon itself the burden of any need and especially, in its immense capacity for forgiveness?
It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the Word of God on this the Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.’ In the various readings, the liturgy seems to indicate the path of mercy which, while reestablishing the relationship of each person with God, also creates new relations of fraternal solidarity among human beings. Christ has taught us that man not only receives and experiences the mercy of God but is also called to practice mercy towards others: “Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.” –Matthew 5:7 He (Jesus) also showed us the many paths of mercy, which not only forgives sins but reaches out to all human needs. Jesus bent over every kind of human poverty, material and spiritual.”
–Pope John Paul II (30 April, 2000) Mass at St. Peter’s Square For the Canonization of Sr. Mary Faustina Kowalska
A Vision of Christ
I John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the Island called Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was called in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write in a Book what you see and send it to the seven Churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across His chest. His head and His hair were white as white wool, white as snow; His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze refined as in a furnace and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand he held seven stars and from His mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword and His face was like the sun shining with full force.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead but He placed His right hand on me saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last and the living One. I was dead and see, I am alive forever and ever and I have the keys of Death and of Hades (Hell). Now write what you have seen, what is and what is to take place after this. –Revelation 1:9-19
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews (Jewish religious leaders) Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side, then 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.” When He had said this He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Jesus and Thomas
Thomas (who was called the Twin) one of the twelve was not with them when Jesus came, so the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe.’
A week later His disciples were again in the house and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it in My side. Do not doubt but believe.”
Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and My God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
The Purpose of This Book
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book but these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing you may have life in His name. –John 20:19-31