Dear People of God,
May the Lord Risen Lord bless you and fill you with His Mercy as we celebrate the Divine Mercy Sunday.
It is 27th April 2025. We reflect on Acts 5:12-16; Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19 and John 20:19-31.
Yesterday afternoon, all our eyes turned to Rome, to St. Peter’s Square, as thousands of us gathered around our screens to join and participate in the funeral Mass of our beloved Pope Francis.
We thank God for the gift of Pope Francis, who led the Church with wisdom, gentleness, and courage for twelve grace-filled years. It was indeed a sacred moment of farewell, offered with gratitude, prayer, and deep affection.
His legacy will live on. Pope Francis lived simply, walked humbly, and inspired us with an intensity rooted in love and service. He never sought golden thrones or grand gestures. Instead, he will be remembered for his closeness to the poor, to the broken-hearted, and to those whom the world often forgets or sidelines. He showed us another way — the way of the Gospel, where true greatness is found not in power, but in humility, kindness, and mercy.
Now that the funeral has come to an end, our focus turns to the Conclave. Let us pray for a holy and good Pope to guide us in the next chapter of our journey.
Divine Mercy Sunday is the culmination of the Easter mysteries—offering us the mercy and peace of the Risen Christ. His mercy is boundless, flowing from His Heart, bringing peace and inviting us to draw near without fear.
As we reflect on this great mercy, we are reminded that it is not merely for us as individuals, but for the entire human family.
There’s a story of a scientist on a flight who observed how the passengers reacted to a turbulent storm. While many were scared and praying, a young girl remained calm, reading her book and playing with her toys.
When the scientist asked her how she stayed so peaceful, she simply said, “My dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home.” In faith, we trust in the guidance of our Heavenly Father, who leads us through life’s storms.
In the first reading from Acts, we hear that the early Christians lived in unity, with no one in need among them. True faith is not only personal; it’s lived in community.
Where there is faith, there is love, and where there is love, there is sharing. We cannot truly believe in the Risen Lord without sharing His love and mercy with others.
Faith is never solitary—it’s a journey we walk together as a community. In today’s Gospel, we meet St. Thomas, who doubted the resurrection until he saw the wounds of Christ.
When we are separated from the community, our faith weakens. But like Thomas, when we return to the community, we encounter the Risen Lord, and our faith is strengthened.
“Do not doubt but believe,” Jesus says. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Faith is a journey of continual encounter with the Risen Lord in others.
It grows and matures when nurtured by our community. Faith is also a journey of embracing suffering. We remember St. John Paul II, who, despite great suffering in his final years, continued to fulfill his role as Pope.
His response to a reporter asking why he didn’t resign due to his suffering was profound: “If Jesus had come down from the cross, I too would have resigned.” His words remind us that faith involves embracing our cross with Christ. Faith frees us from fear. When we are with the One we love, fear fades.
As St. John writes, “Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5). May we, like St. Thomas, profess with confidence, “My Lord and my God.”
As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, let us pray for the grace to encounter the Risen Lord, to share His mercy, and to strengthen our faith through community and the suffering of others.
May we, too, be witnesses of His love in the world. God bless you all.