THE ENCOUNTER WITH DIVINE MERCY

 Reflection on the Feast of Divine Mercy

(2^nd Sunday of Easter)

"My Lord and my God"

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them.” The disciples were terrified as Jesus appeared suddenly in their mist. How could he pass through closed doors! If he were a ghost, his physical stature would be a mere mirage; and if he were human, He would not pass through closed doors! But here before them stood the resurrected Jesus, with real human nature assumed in His Divine nature. This grace of the resurrection awaits us...

“Peace be with you,” Jesus said to them. Imagine the silence that hovered around the enclosed room as they gazed at Him with utmost wonder! Wrapped in the great mystery before them, the disciples remained silent throughout the encounter. As Jesus proved Himself to them by showing them His hands and feet, they were glad but still remained silent. Who can fathom such a great mystery that warmed their hearts but kept their mouths shut! Every encounter with the resurrected Jesus draws us to a warm silence.

Now we contemplate Jesus, standing before the disciples, enclosed in the room but not confined within it—contained in the room but cannot be restricted by the walls. Materiality can restrict humanity but not divinity! So when humanity is mingled with divinity, then material wall can restrict it no more...There is no obstacle along the way; there is no barrier to hinder Jesus.

Then, Jesus gave the authority to forgive sin to His Church, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” This mandate—the Sacrament of Reconciliation—contains God’s mercy and forgiveness but does not restrict it or limit it. Divine Mercy is made accessible and readily available to us. Jesus standing before the disciples becomes the ultimate ‘Icon’ of Divine Mercy! He invites doubting souls to come and have a feel, a touch of mercy.

“My Lord and my God” is the habitual response of all who encounter the Divine Mercy. The peace, joy and the ‘silence’ it gives is unfathomable. It is a new birth—a new life in Christ Jesus. Anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creation (2Cor 5:17). Their lives are not restricted by material things. They re in the world, but not of it (cf. Jn 17:14-16). They use things of the earth but not consumed by them. A life that participates in the Resurrection of Jesus knows no barrier. They cannot be confined by the wall of material things. However, Divine Mercy awaits us if we derail and get trapped in the world of lust, greed, and all sorts of addiction.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Faith unlocks this ever new horizon, and connects us to the grace of the Resurrection. The unfathomable Divine Mercy envelops us, and opens up for the whole world. And the response of faith that sustains us in this ocean of mercy is: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi, Lagos.

Sunday April 28^th, 2019

Feast of Divine Mercy.