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April 27, 2025
Second Sunday of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday

Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16
Psalm 118
Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19
Luke 22: 14-23: 56, John 20:19-31

Mercy Received. Mercy Given

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, what impressed me most was how the apostles were emboldened. Remember that immediately after Jesus’ death on the cross they all hid away. They were petrified that what happened to their mentor, Jesus, would happen to them. The apostles were, at the moment of Jesus’ death, left alone.

Today’s passage from Acts shows the men coming alive. God worked miracles through them and suddenly they were emboldened. God’s mercy was worked through them. These common men recognized this and were impressed themselves. They were not “full of themselves.” They saw the mighty power of God at work in and through them. Confidence came to them. The reading from Acts explains this. They knew that they could do good.

The Gospel of John, Chapter 20, recounts the famous story of the empowerment of the Apostles. The Lord “breathed” on them. They were told, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” And they did receive the Spirit.

It is remarkable to me how the Lord works. He wants all to receive His Gift, Grace. None of us deserve Grace. It IS pure gift. God’s aim is to give and work His Grace through His servants. Each person touched by His Grace in turn touches another person with it. His Grace is passed on from one to another. This is the role of the Holy Spirit working in the Community of Faith.

As members of the community receive the Spirit they give the Spirit. Thus, the Apostles become emissaries of the Lord and always point to God, not themselves.

Mercy, besides Justice, is worked through the Faithful followers of Christ. Justice is what everyone is shown just because all are creatures of God. However, Mercy is pure gift. No one is owed a gift. That is the nature of a gift. It is given freely without cause except for that of Love.

From the start of my priesthood, truly from the moment of my calling to the priesthood, I was shown mercy and made to show mercy to others.

There always have been moments I have resisted doing God’s will. I hear myself saying, “Lord, enough already!” I tell Him to give someone else a job to do. Why not impress upon some other lazy person who shows little care that he or she needs to act justly. But then I realized something.

Like the apostles in the readings today I am called and empowered to do God’s will. As an old adage goes, “If not me then who?” And once I get over my lethargy, God’s power steps in.

I am not speaking of God’s work in me as “magic.” God waves no wand. His Spirit does exist and moves through me. And His powerful mercy will move through you too.

When I look at my life in the Priestly ministry, I see God’s movement in me. God’s working in me itself is a show of mercy. I am not worthy on my own to be the Lord’s vessel of mercy. Likewise, no one I minister to is worthy either of the mercy I pass on to him or her.

I remind myself to be grateful that God’s mercy works through me. Such lifts me up with the joy of knowing God is near to me. And with that knowledge I must give Mercy to another as well.

Mercy received and mercy given.
Peace and blessings,
Father Bob


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For Pope Francis
Hear with favor our prayers,
which we humbly offer, O Lord,
for the salvation of the soul of Pope Francis,
your servant and Priest,
that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name,
may rejoice in the perpetual
company of your Saints.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.


Father Bob's
Video Reflections

Each week Father Bob posts a Video Reflection on the Spiritual readings for the weekend Mass. These Videos are not intended to replace your prescence at mass each week! Much like Scripture Sharing on Thursday evening from 7 pm - 8 pm, these videos act as a point of reference to enhance your knowledge and better prepare you to participate in each weeks celebration.

Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.

The Jesus Prayer...

Lord Jesus Christ
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.


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This Weeks Scripture Readings

April 27, 2025
Second Sunday of Easter
Sunday of Divine Mercy


Reading I
Acts 5:12-16

Many signs and wonders were done among the people
at the hands of the apostles.
They were all together in Solomon’s portico.
None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them.
Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord,
great numbers of men and women, were added to them.
Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets
and laid them on cots and mats
so that when Peter came by,
at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.
A large number of people from the towns
in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered,
bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits,
and they were all cured.



Responsorial Psalm
Ps 118

R. (24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad..
“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.”
R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.



Reading II
Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19

I, John, your brother, who share with you
the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus,
found myself on the island called Patmos
because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus.
I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day
and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said,
“Write on a scroll what you see.”
Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me,
and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,
wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.

When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.
He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid.
I am the first and the last, the one who lives.
Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.
I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.
Write down, therefore, what you have seen,
and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”



Alleluia
John 20:29

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.


Next Weeks Readings