We may make a judgment about Thomas the Apostle based upon what we hear in today’s Gospel. In general, that assessment tends to look down on him. Thomas wasn't present when Jesus appeared to his disciples in the locked room, so he makes a famous statement to the other apostles when he hears their testimony: “"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Thomas does indeed touch Jesus' hands and side when he appears again to the disciples a week later. Through this “hands-on” encounter with Jesus, Thomas is able to believe in Jesus and the resurrection. Yet, this incident that displays Thomas’ skepticism earns him the title “Doubting Thomas” amongst believers. However, that title does not tell the whole story. Thomas became a missionary, bringing the Gospel to the people of India and dying as a martyr for the faith. Thomas had doubts, just as probably almost every Christian does to one degree or another at some point in his life. But shouldn’t we remember Thomas as a believer rather than a doubter? Thomas doubted, to be sure, but those doubts and questions led to him to touch the very wounds of Jesus. Touching those wounds led him to belief. This was not by chance. In the story of Thomas, we see God’s mercy and grace at work. Thomas moved out of his doubt and became a true witness for the faith in those simple words: “My Lord and my God!”
We hear today’s Gospel message on Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul II declared the Second Sunday of Easter of each year to be Divine Mercy Sunday when he celebrated the Jubilee Year of 2000 at the mass in which Sister Faustina Kowalska was canonized. Sister Faustina, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Poland, had a vision of the Divine Mercy of Jesus in 1931, accompanied by these words: "I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of my tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of my mercy". With the declaration of Divine Mercy Sunday to be celebrated each year, devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus and praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet has become very popular among the Catholic faithful. Yet, today’s celebration goes beyond the Divine Mercy chaplet. The message that all of us should take away from today is that out of his love and mercy for humanity, Jesus wants to bring everyone into the community of believers. God’s door is open to everyone – that is the message that the Church and Pope Francis give to the world. God's love and mercy is there for those who have not cultivated a relationship with God in their lives, for those who are hurt and overburdened by the harsh reality of their lives, for those who have had their feelings hurt by past experiences with the Church, and for those who longer fully engaged in their faith. If we approach God’s throne of mercy in our humility and our belief just as Thomas did, we will be changed forever. The two rays that shine from Jesus’ heart in the image of his Divine Mercy represent blood and water, Jesus’ divinity and humanity. These rays demonstrate how God’s love and mercy reach out to us through Christ crucified and risen.
As we celebrate God’s divine mercy for us today, we should realize that we are called to do our part. We are to strive to be witnesses of God’s love and mercy throughout the world, to do so with all sincerity of heart. And this ties into Pope Francis wish for us, the faithful. Several years ago, the Pope declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy. He wanted the celebration of this Holy Jubilee Year to make clear to the world the Church’s witness to God’s mercy. That Holy Year of Mercy was a great gift to our Church and to the world. May we all feel God’s mercy in our hearts today as we celebrate this joyful Easter season with hope and joy.
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