2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)

 The greeting of the Risen Lord to his Apostles is: "Peace be with you." (Jn 20: 19) The prayer the priest prays, prior to the sign of Peace in every Mass, starts: "Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: peace I leave you, my peace I give you." Thus, every time we attend Mass we are recalling and invoking the presence of the Risen Lord to our celebration. We can, like the Apostles in the Upper Room, be paralyzed by fear: "...the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jewish authorities." (Jn 20: 19) Just as the Apostles were empowered by Jesus so too, we, as missionary disciples in 2024 are reinvigorated in our mission to share the joy of the Gospel with the community around us. Lest we be scandalized by our weakness the priest goes on to pray: "... look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever." The Divine Mercy assures us of the forgiveness of our Lord. Furthermore, we are not alone. We are supported by the faith of the Church which includes the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles who continue to help us in our own struggles and weakness.