cryptic homily notes for divine mercy sunday

today is not like my usual posts but just scattered thoughts from today’s scriptures… you can unpack them in your own way, no?

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first reading (acts 4) highlights: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind”; “There was no needy person among them”; “those who owned property or houses would sell them,
bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles”; “distributed to each according to need”

n.b.– selfishness takes away from what others need. generosity and sharing are acts of love. these were the same feet of the apostles that were washed by jesus at the last supper– is this what jesus meant for the followers of jesus to “wash one anothers’ feet”? the call to remove selfishness and attend to the needs of our sisters and brothers through sharing

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psalm 118 highlights

R.  Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. “My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior….This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.” R.  Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

do i really think that i manufacture my own strength and courage?

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second reading ( 1 john 5) highlights

For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome

The Spirit is the one that testifies,
and the Spirit is truth

why do we think that God asks us to do what is burdensome? is God a burden? love is not a feeling but actions that do God’s will: love commandment

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images from the gospel (john 20):

locked doors– when fear overcomes us, we will lock doors to protect ourselves. what are we protecting? why do we fear? who gets locked outside the doors?

jesus passes through the doors we lock– to give us/world the gift of peace

jesus breathed new life onto the apostles… like God breathed life into humanity (adam) genesis 2

new life and mission because of the holy spirit being breathed upon them: forgiveness of sins

thomas could not just take the word of the others. he thought he needed proof. what thomas needed was the experience of the real presence of the risen christ. experience > proof

what i think i need could be a trap? jesus knows what i really need– peace; jesus presence? how do we experience jesus’ real presence? what inspires us exclaim, “my Lord and God”? is not this a heart connection to the eucharist?

what are jesus’ other unwritten signs in the presence of his disciples? are we not his disciples? might these signs that we experience today be part of this reference?

to believe = to give one’s heart (not an intellectual affirmation)

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post script: what will come out of my mouth at mass today?