Peace and mercy: reflections and insights on the Octave-Day of Easter

Today, we celebrate three occasions in the liturgy and in the history of the Church: First, it is the Octave Day of Easter (if you remember, Christmas, Easter and even Pentecost have an eight-day festivity starting from December 25th, Easter Sunday, and Pentecost Sunday until January 1st and the succeeding Sunday of the other two solemnities, respectively.). Today is the end of the Easter Octave, wherein we extend our joyous celebration of the resurrection of our victorious Lord.

Second, at least in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, we also celebrate the Sunday of Divine Mercy, where the Church, or at least the devotees of the title of our Lord as the King of Mercy, declared that its feast be celebrated on the Octave Day of Easter, or more known as the second Sunday in the Easter season. Quite a decisive insert for the liturgy, since the Gospel in both Forms of the Rite of Rome on this day focus on the Doubting Thomas and the establishment of the Sacrament of Confession/Penance/Reconciliation. These themes would be tackled in the reflection later.

Finally, we rejoice together with the whole Church in the occasion of the canonisation of two of its former leaders: John XXIII and John Paul II. The latter is going to be canonised in the merit of a miracle attributed to him, while the Good Pope will be included in the Altar of the Saints because of the authority and prerogative (in short, whims) of Pope Francis.

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READINGS AND PROPERS

Extraordinary Form (Low Sunday or Dominica in Albis)

White        

Major Sunday of the 1st Class

[Station at St. Pancras']

This Sunday is called from the first words of the Introit, the Sunday of Quasimodo, or Sunday in Albis (deponendis), because the neophytes on that day put aside their white garments. In English the term Low Sunday is in contrast with Easter or High Sunday. Another Latin name Pascha clausum is preserved in the French: Paques closes and in the Dutch or Flemish: Beloken Pasen: close of Easter, this Sunday ending the Octave. -- Let us proclaim our faith in the risen Lord, and in His divine Presence in the Holy Eucharist.

INTROIT ¤ I. Peter 2. 2

Quasi modo geniti infantes, alleluia: rationabiles, sine dolo lac concupiscite, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. -- Exsultate Deo adjutori nostro: jubilate Deo Jacob. V.: Gloria Patri . . . Quasi modo . . .        

As newborn babes, alleluia, desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. -- (Ps. 80. 2). Rejoice to God our Helper; sing aloud to the God of Jacob. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- As newborn babes . . .

COLLECT.--Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who have celebrated the Paschal Feast, may, by Thy bounty, retain its fruits in our daily habits and behavior. Through our Lord Jesus Christ . . .

EPISTLE ¤ I. John 5. 4-10

Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed John the Apostle.

[The faith of those who are born of God overcomes the world.]

Dearly beloved, Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory, which overcometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth that Christ is the truth. And there are three who give testimony in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on eath: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: for this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth in the Son of God hath the testimony of God in himself.

GRADUAL ¤ Matth. 28. 7

Alleluia, alleluia. V.: In die resurrectionis meae, dicit Dominus, praecedam vos in Galilaeam. Alleluia. V.: Post dies octo januis clausis, stetit Jesus in medio discipulorum suorum, et dixit: Pax vobis. Alleluia.        

Alleluia, alleluia. V.: On the day of My Resurrection, saith the Lord, I will go before you into Galilee. Alleluia. V.: (John 20. 26). After eight days, the doors being shut, Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples and said: Peace be to you. Alleluia.

GOSPEL ¤ John 20. 19-31

† Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. John.

[The Evangelist shows us how Our Lord Jesus Christ, twice appearing in the Cenacle, dispelled the doubts of the Apostle Thomas, and praised those who, without having seen Him, believed in Him.]

At that time, when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and He said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. The He saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see My hands, and bring hither thy hand, and put into My side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said to Him: my Lord and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you may have life in His Name.

OFFERTORY ¤ Matth. 28. 2, 5, 6

Angelus Domini descendit de caelo, et dixit mulieribus: Quem quaeritus, surrexit, sicut dixit. Alleluia.        

An Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and said to the women; He whom you seek is risen, as He said. Alleluia.

SECRET.--Receive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gifts of Thine exultant Church: and to her whom Thou hast given cause for so great joy, grant the fruit of perpetual happiness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son . . .

PREFACE

Preface for Easter

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, te quidem Domine omni tempore, sed in hoc potissimum die gloriosis praedicare, cum Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus. Ipse enim verus est Angus qui abstulit peccata mundi. Qui mortem nostram moriendo destruxit, et vitam resurgendo reparavit. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omnia milita coelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes:        

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this day when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

SPECIAL FORM OF COMMUNICANTES

Communicantes for Easter

Communicantes, et diem sacratissimum celebrantes Resurrectionis Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum carnem: set et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genitricis ejusdem Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: set et . . .        

Communicating, and keeping this most holy day of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh; and also reverencing the memory, first, of the glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also . . .

SPECIAL FORM OF HANC IGITUR

Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostrae, set et cunctae familiae tuae, quam tibi offerimus pro his quoque, quos regenerare dignatus es ex aqua, et Spiritu Sancto, tribuens eis remissionem omnium peccatorum, quaesumus Domine, ut placatus accipias: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab aeterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numberari. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.        

We therefore beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously to accept this oblation of our service, as also of Thy whole family, which we make unto Thee on behalf of these whom Thou hast vouchsafed to bring to a new birth by water and the Holy Ghost, granting them remission of all their sins: and to dispose our days in Thy peace, preserve us from final damnation and rank us in the number of Thine Elect. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

COMMUNION ¤ John 20. 27

Mitte manum tuam, et cognosce loca clavorum, alleluia: et noli esse incredulis, sed fidelis, alleluia, alleluia.        

Put in thy hand, and know the place of the nails, alleluia; and be not faithless, but believing, alleluia, alleluia.

POSTCOMMUNION.--We beseech Thee, O Lord, our God, to make the most holy Mysteries which Thou hast given us as a defense of our renewal, a remedy for us now, and in the future. Through our Lord Jesus Christ . . .

Ordinary Form (Second Sunday of Easter / Sunday of Divine Mercy)

Lesson: Acts 2:42-47

In those days: they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communication of the breaking of bread and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul. Many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem: and there was great fervor in all. And all they that believed were together and had all things common. Their possessions and goods they sold and divided them to all, according as every one had need. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart: Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.

Responsorial: Ps. 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24

R: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love is everlasting. 

Let Israel now say, that he is good:

that his mercy endureth for ever.

Let the house of Aaron now say,

that his mercy endureth for ever.

Let them that fear the Lord now say,

that his mercy endureth for ever.

Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall:

but the Lord supported me.

The Lord is my strength and my praise:

and he is become my salvation.

The voice of rejoicing and of salvation

is in the tabernacles of the just. 

The stone which the builders rejected;

the same is become the head of the corner.

This is the Lord's doing ,

and it is wonderful in our eyes.

This is the day which the Lord hath made:

let us be glad and rejoice therein.

Epistle: I Pt. 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: Unto an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled and that cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you, Who, by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you shalt greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations: That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now though you see him not, you believe and, believing, shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified; Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Gospel: Jn. 20:19-31

At that time: when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you. Then he said to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither and see my hands. And bring hither the hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.

Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.

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REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS  

As stated earlier, the Gospel today is about the first appearance of Jesus after He resurrected from the dead. The picture of the locked door and the mysterious entry of the Lord in it is a powerful one that it solidifies our belief that Jesus is God, that in His glorified Body, time and space are now slaves of the Lord.

The first thing that He said was "Pax vobis." "Peace be unto you." This is both an assurance and a practical thought conveyed by the Lord to His friends: an assurance since He have risen from the dead as He said and now lives forever; a practical thought since the Apostles were afraid of the Jews. But for us, we must not just use it at Mass as a ritualistic thing you would say when the priest or the deacon invites us to offer the sign of peace to those who sat beside us (and even on those who are a few rows away). The Sign of Peace before the "Agnus Dei" in the New Form of the Mass only means that there should be something in the peace we give to one another; and that is mercy--that we who were forgiven by the Lord from our trespasses should also forgive those who trespass against us.

The peace that the Lord gave us leads us to mercy; thus, mercy gives meaning to the Lord's peace. Besides, we live in a world where what we see and act is what we get, and that we get what we deserve. For my part, I admit that I have this thought that justice must prevail over mercy, since any act of mercy is always taken for granted. But I simply am troubled instantly since I have experienced getting what I deserve, and became upset in it.

But that is not what the Lord did when Thomas was with the Ten on the second time He appeared.

We might say that because Jesus is now in His glorified state, and that He is the Omniscient God incarnate, He might have heard such an insult from Thomas when he said "If I will see His hands and touch His side, I will believe."

Did our Lord reprimanded him for such doubtful behaviour? Jesus even invited Thomas to examine the holy wounds of redemption in order to convince the Apostle that He conquered sin and death.

And all that Thomas said was "My Lord and my God!"

This Gospel, paired with the other readings in both Forms, creatively weaved out a concept that the Mass is not only the highest form of worship, but it is also a powerful tool God instituted for us so that we may always look at ourselves if we are still worthy to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our victorious Lord; and if we are not, feel a compunction of heart that we cannot receive Him who redeemed the world through His death and rose out of it victorious.

This is the reason why the Lord instituted the Sacrament of Penance in the Upper Room.

The Evangelist stated that Christ breathed the Apostles with the Holy Spirit and said "Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained." This is the most concrete Scriptural reference for this Sacrament, since Christ Himself commanded them to forgive the sins confessed by men to them through the ministry of the Church and absolve their sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

The Sacrament of Penance, though is no compliment of the Mass, is a vital Sacrament for all Christians, since it relieves the sinner from his painful contrition and compunction of heart. It makes him able to receive the Body of Christ at Mass. If the man had a good confession, the Sacrament will be a way for him to improve his spiritual life. And from the Pope down to the most insignificant, yet dignified faithful, a good confession would give him peace.

It is fitting, therefore, that the Feast of the Divine Mercy is always set at the Octave Day of Easter, since most of us are like the Doubting Thomas, who have lost a reason to live out his faith because his Hope was hung lifeless on the Tree of Life. It is fitting for the Church to showcase the mercy of God in a world where mercy is nothing but an empty word; because it is the peace that only the Lord can give that would give meaning to His Divine Mercy--and the world either rejects it or have searched for it yet gave up.

And such coincidence it is that the visionary of the Divine Mercy was a Polish nun who was canonised by a Polish Pope who, in turn would be canonised tomorrow in the Feast he have established in his own papacy; and prior to that, have died and was beatified on the same Feast.

Indeed, tomorrow would be such a historical event for the Church and for the world. Too many coincidences, too much exposure, and too numerous a crowd on a single day.

In all, the bottom line is this: God understood that we would sin again and again and again. This is the reason why He gave the Apostles the power to forgive sins, which was, in turn, passed down to numerous generations of bishops and priests; which we who benefit from the celmency of Him who gave such power should never underestimate. This and all others He did because He is the Prince of Peace and the King of Mercy.

Because of Jesus, we can bravely say "Abba! Father!" Because of Him, we can also bravely cry "Jesus, I trust in Thee!"

And so we ask: Am I brave enough to have a good confession or will I be like Thomas who proudly doubted the omnipotence of the Lord?

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PRAYING THE COLLECT

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who have celebrated the Paschal Feast, may, by Thy bounty, retain its fruits in our daily habits and behavior.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.