Homily Divine Mercy Sunday 28th April A rule of life is that love must be shown and that applies not only to our human relationships but also to our relationship with God. Jesus is the first to follow this rule and today as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday we see it put into context in the Gospel at the moment after the resurrection when Jesus appears in the midst of the apostles and shows them his hands and his side . We try to imagine the feelings and the thoughts of the apostles since they were probably feeling guilty because most of them had betrayed him, a sense of fear as they knew he had died and yet now he was alive and an obvious sense of the shame of a sinner. A mix of emotions and within this surprise and gladness there must have been questions such as “why did I reject him?” and “ why couldn’t I have been more brave and stayed with him?” But all of this vanished through Jesus’ smile and his display of love for them … “Peace be with you “ he said . That is our God, the prince of peace . But his mercy is not just shown by words but through his flesh …. by his body and blood and that is why he showed us his hands and his side and that is why we trust him. How can we be suspicious of him if he died for us ? Today we have also heard what Jesus said to St John the apostle through Revelations: ‘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.’ Jesus lives forever and ever, he is in our midst and we will never be alone again. Brethren, on this day it is important to take a moment and recognise the love that abides around us. The disciples recognize the love of Jesus by his wounds. Are you able to recognize the wounds of love of your loved ones ? In the fragility of the older ones around you are you able to see the signs of a life of offering and service ? In the fatigue of our parents can we see the love they have for us ? In their studies at school along with their joy and playfulness can we see the compromise and esteem of the youngest in the household ? Let’s ask the Lord for the grace to recognize the signs of His mercy and also the signs of love that we receive every day . “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven”. The spirit of Jesus is the power of forgiveness. He is the power of forgiveness. He makes it possible to start over all again. The friendship of Jesus is the friendship of the One who makes us into people who forgive. The One who also forgives us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. By his mercy he also reminds us of our duty to show love to others and of our duty to respond with faithfulness to his trust. In the gospel passage for today we heard the story of the Apostle Thomas’ encounter with the Risen Lord . The Apostle is permitted to touch His wounds and thereby recognizes him not only as Jesus the preacher of Nazareth, the Son of Man but above all as his God. Let us too , look up to the Lord alongside St Thomas and say “My Lord and my God”.