(Source from The Word Among Us)

My Lord and my God! (John 20:28)

Why wasn’t Thomas with the other apostles the first time Jesus appeared to them? Maybe Thomas was so discouraged that he just wanted to be alone, or perhaps he was hiding somewhere else. Whatever the case, he didn’t believe that Jesus had really appeared to the disciples that night (John 20:25). He had to see the risen Christ for himself.

Jesus knew this, so exactly one week later, he appeared again, this time to all the apostles. When Jesus invited Thomas to put his hand in his wounds, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

What an appropriate Gospel passage for Divine Mercy Sunday! In his great mercy, Jesus deeply desired that Thomas believe that he had truly risen—so much so that he may have come back especially for him. 

The Gospels are filled with examples of Jesus’ mercy, from his healing of people who were blind or sick to his compassion for those who were far from home and needed something to eat. Of course, his greatest act of mercy was his self-offering on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.

“Tell the whole world about my inconceivable mercy.” That’s the message Jesus gave to the Polish nun Sr. Faustina Kowalska in 1931 (Diary, 699). This is a mercy that knows no bounds, that longs for every single person to receive it and be saved, no matter how far they have strayed. We have trouble conceiving it because it is so unlike anything we have ever encountered here on earth!

No matter how long we’ve followed Jesus, we are all in need of his mercy and compassion. Even Thomas, his very own apostle, needed it! Today make time to gaze on the Divine Mercy image of Jesus and ask him to give you the grace to believe in the depths of his mercy. Then exclaim with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”

“Jesus, have mercy on me and on the whole world!”