THE POWERFUL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EIGHT DAY

REFLECTION FOR SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY) YEAR C

THEME: THE POWERFUL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EIGHT DAY

R1: Acts 5:27-32; 32; 40-41

R2: Rev 5:11-14

Gospel: Jn 21:1-19

Dear friends in Christ, this Sunday is called the *Divine Mercy Sunday.* Today we celebrate the endless mercy of God which extends even to those who do not deserve it. To make ever present His mercy among us, Christ commissions his apostles to forgive sins, as whose sins they forgive will be forgiven and whose sins they retain will be retained (Jn 20:23). This divine mandate was given on the eight day which coincidentally is the day of the resurrection and the day the followers always gather to pray. Let us look at the significance of this day on our lives as believers. 

*1. The General Attitude of Christians:*

 From the resurrection of Christ, the eight day is special in the formation of the attitude of Christians. The first reading of today makes clear such attitude notable of  the early Christians. They usually come together on this day to pray and to praise God with one heart and mind. This oneness and community of love attracted the admiration of the crowed that brought their sick ones to receive healing and thereby believing in the gospel.

We, like the early Christians gather every Sunday to praise, worship and to thank God. The question becomes, does our weekly gathering have any influence on non-believers? Does our attitude attract people to God or repel them? Among the early Christians were mixture of people, the poor, the marginalised, people of lower class. These stayed together in harmony, but in our time, do we relate well with those who are not of our level and who are in our midst? An easy way to change the world is not just by preaching but by living well, this will win the admiration of people. We can’t live well if we do not love ourselves no matter our class differences. With one heart and mind we can convert the world.

*2. Christian Community; a Life with Others:*

With the outbreak of the pandemic, a lot of things have taken place which has affected our faith as Christians. Before the pandemic, many people were longing to be together in the Church to worship God, and get relieved of their pains and worries and be reassured of their hope for salvation. Unfortunately, the pandemic came and scattered us apart; coming together became a threat. 

With the first part of gospel reading of today and with the ease in public gatherings, we are being reminded of the need to step out of our homes to go and meet the Lord in the Church. We are being reminded of the need to gather with the faithful because it only there that we shall encounter Christ and his real presence in the Eucharist, his word speaking to us in the readings and homily and his gift of peace in our troubled state. The peace Christ gives is the type the world cannot give (Jn 14:27). Refusing to gather with his people would mean that we shall miss the Lord’s presence, his word and his gift of peace just as in the case of Thomas (Jn 20:24). 

*3. The Thomas Syndrome:* In every gathering of the faithful, there is always the ‘Thomas Syndrome.’  Thomas is known for his doubts and this has led to the famous term, *“Doubting Thomas.”* The ‘Thomas Syndrome’, represents those times we feel dryness and drought in our faith. It stands for those times we expect God to manifest himself in a particular situation so that we may believe his existence. It represents those times we need a proof for our faith. Sometimes, it happens unfortunately that we get no response in what we need at least to boost our faith, and we begin to doubt God. This can happen to anyone; the highly religious and the less religious person, it is a common phenomenon. 

In the presence of doubt, let us remember also that the Lord has manifested himself in one way or the other in different situations of our lives. The end part of the gospel reading today is a reminder, that even if we have gotten no immediate answer to what we seek, let us not be people of doubt but those who believe, for by the act of believing our reward is blessedness (heaven). There are two things that may constitute our doubts. *They are; pride and sin.* With pride we refuse to understand the mind of God that things may not always happen according to our wish but the will of God. With sin, we are prevented from having a clear vision of Christ who is with us in different ways and in different situations, through the things he has done and the ones he is still doing (Jn 20:31). Lets us therefore stand against pride and sin, so that, we may see and understand the immensity of his love and mercy.

Reflection by:

Rev Fr Chukwuemeka V. Livinus, SMMM.