SEGUNDO DOMINGO DE PASCUA (DOMINGO DE LA DIVINA MISERICORDIA) – 2026

Queridos hermanos y hermanas:

Hemos entrado en este tiempo de Pascua, que es una invitación a recordar que Jesús está verdaderamente vivo y que Él es la verdadera fuente de salvación y esperanza para el mundo. Las lecturas de este segundo domingo de pascua nos invitan a reconocer que somos descendientes de aquella comunidad de fe que nació a partir de la Resurrección del Señor. También son una invitación a vivir como verdaderos discípulos de Jesús resucitado, siendo su presencia en el mundo y mostrando su amor, misericordia, paz, perdón y compasión a todos.

Permítanme compartir con ustedes algunas preguntas para reflexionar:

¿Acudes a confesarte al menos una vez al año?

¿Perdonas a quienes te ofenden?

¿Eres mensajero del Evangelio de Jesús?

¿Eres instrumento de su paz?

¿Muestras misericordia a los más necesitados?

Ahora, quisiera compartir algunas ideas sobre las lecturas de este Segundo Domingo de Pascua,

también conocido como el Domingo de la Divina Misericordia:

1.    La primera comunidad de creyentes La comunidad cristiana primitiva se caracterizaba por cuatro elementos esenciales: la enseñanza de los apóstoles, la comunión fraterna, la fracción del pan y la oración. Esta comunidad no solo se preocupaba por orar junta, sino también por compartir lo que tenia con los más necesitados.

2.    Jesús trae su paz Jesús atraviesa las puertas cerradas y cualquier barrera en nuestras vidas, se pone en medio de sus discípulos y les dice: “La paz esté con ustedes.” Este mismo saludo lo repite el sacerdote (in persona Christi) en cada Misa. Los discípulos estaban llenos de miedo y tristeza tras la muerte de Jesús, y es precisamente en ese contexto cuando Él se les aparece y les da su paz: no la paz del mundo, sino la paz que nace del conocimiento y la fe de que Él está verdaderamente con nosotros.

3.    Jesús los envía El Señor envía a sus discípulos al mundo para predicar su Palabra y anunciar el perdón a todos los pueblos. Los envía como mensajeros de su misericordia y amor. Una de las formas en que continúa esta misión es a través de los sacramentos de la Iglesia, que nos traen el perdón y la reconciliación de Dios. Hermanos y hermanas, también nosotros somos misioneros de la Divina Misericordia, llamados a proclamar que Jesús está vivo siendo canales de su paz, perdón y misericordia.

4.    De la incredulidad a la fe – Tomás Como Tomás no estaba con la comunidad, se perdió el primer encuentro con el Señor resucitado. Pero Jesús regresó especialmente por él, para encontrarse con él, disipar sus dudas y llevarlo a la fe. Tomás, que exigía pruebas físicas, terminó postrándose ante Jesús y proclamando: “¡Señor mío y Dios mío!” Su proceso llevó a Jesús a proclamar bienaventurados a quienes creen sin haber visto. Esa promesa se aplica a todos nosotros, que hemos llegado a la fe por el testimonio de los apóstoles. Proclamemos hoy con Tomás: “¡Señor mío y Dios mío!”

5.    Heridas que sanan Jesús utilizó sus heridas para sanar la incredulidad de Tomás. Aquí hay una enseñanza profunda: Jesús puede usar nuestras heridas para ayudar a sanar a otros. Cuando nuestras propias heridas son sanadas, pueden convertirse en instrumentos para acompañar a otros en su proceso de sanación.

Hermanos y hermanas, al celebrar el Domingo de la Divina Misericordia, recordemos que Jesús siempre tiene sus brazos abiertos para acogernos, perdonarnos y mostrarnos cuánto nos ama. Pidámosle que nos conceda ser verdaderos mensajeros de su misericordia en el mundo. Amén.

P. Luis Segura M.S.C.

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SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY) – 2026

Dear brothers and sisters, we have entered this Easter season, which is an invitation to remember that Jesus is truly alive and that He is the true source of salvation and hope for the world. The readings for this Second Sunday of Easter invite us to recognize that we are descendants of that community of faith that was born from the Resurrection of the Lord. They are also an invitation to live as true disciples of the risen Jesus, being His presence in the world and showing His love, mercy, peace, forgiveness, and compassion to all.

Let me share with you some questions for reflection:

Do you go to confession at least once a year?

Do you forgive those who offend you?

Are you a messenger of the Gospel of Jesus?

Are you an instrument of his peace?

Do you show mercy to those most in need?

Now, I would like to share some thoughts on the readings for this Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday:

1.    The First Community of Believers. The early Christian community was characterized by four essential elements: the teaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. This community was not only concerned with praying together, but also with sharing what it had with those most in need.

2.    Jesus Brings His Peace. Jesus passes through closed doors and any barrier in our lives, stands in the midst of his disciples, and says to them, “Peace be with you.” This same greeting is repeated by the priest (in persona Christi) at every Mass. The disciples were filled with fear and sadness after Jesus’ death, and it is precisely in this context that he appears to them and gives them his peace: not the peace of the world, but the peace that comes from the knowledge and faith that he is truly with us.

3.    Jesus Sends Them. The Lord sends his disciples into the world to preach his Word and proclaim forgiveness to all peoples. He sends them as messengers of his mercy and love. One of the ways he continues this mission is through the sacraments of the Church, which bring us God's forgiveness and reconciliation. Brothers and sisters, we too are missionaries of Divine Mercy, called to proclaim that Jesus is alive by being channels of his peace, forgiveness, and mercy.

4.    From Unbelief to Faith – Thomas. Because Thomas was not with the community, he missed the first encounter with the risen Lord. But Jesus returned especially for him, to meet with him, dispel his doubts, and lead him to faith. Thomas, who demanded physical proof, ended up prostrating himself before Jesus and proclaiming, “My Lord and my God!” His trial led Jesus to proclaim blessed are those who believe without having seen. That promise applies to all of us who have come to faith through the testimony of the apostles. Let us proclaim today with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”

5.    Wounds that Heal: Jesus used his wounds to heal Thomas' unbelief. Here is a profound lesson: Jesus can use our wounds to help heal others. When our own wounds are healed, they can become instruments to accompany others on their healing journey.

Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, let us remember that Jesus always has his arms open to welcome us, forgive us, and show us how much he loves us. Let us ask him to grant us the grace to be true messengers of his mercy in the world. Amen.

Fr. Luis Segura, M.S.C.

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The Resurrection of the Disciples…

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Lord’s resurrection; today we witness the resurrection of his disciple. It has already been a week, a week since the disciples had seen the Risen Lord, but in spite of this, they remained fearful, cringing behind “closed doors” (Jn 20:26), unable even to convince Thomas, the only one absent, of the resurrection. What does Jesus do in the face of this timorous lack of belief? He returns and, standing in the same place, “in the midst” of the disciples, he repeats his

greeting: “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19, 26). He starts all over. The resurrection of his disciple begins here, from this faithful and patient mercy, from the discovery that God never tires of reaching out to lift us up when we fall. He wants us to see him, not as a taskmaster with whom we have to settle accounts, but as our Father who always raises us up. In life we go forward tentatively, uncertainly, like a toddler who takes a few steps and falls; a few steps more and falls again, yet each time his father puts him back on his feet. The hand that always puts us back on our feet is mercy: God knows that without mercy we will remain on the ground, that in order to keep walking, we need to be put back on our feet.

You may object: “But I keep falling!”. The Lord knows this and he is always ready to raise you up. He does not want us to keep thinking about our failings; rather, he wants us to look to him. For when we fall, he sees children needing to be put back on their feet; in our failings he sees children in need of his merciful love. Let us go back to the disciples. They had abandoned the Lord at his Passion and felt guilty. But meeting them, Jesus did not give a long sermon. To them, who were wounded within, he shows his own wounds. Thomas can now touch them and know of Jesus’ love and how much Jesus had suffered for him, even though he had abandoned him. In those wounds, he touches with his hands God’s tender closeness. Thomas arrived late, but once he received mercy, he overtook the other disciples: he believed not only in the resurrection, but in the boundless love of God. And he makes the most simple and beautiful profession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” (v. 28). Here is the resurrection of the disciple: it is accomplished when his frail and wounded humanity enters into that of Jesus. There, every doubt is resolved; there, God becomes my God; there, we begin to accept  ourselves and to love life as it is.

Today the simple and disarming love of Jesus revives the heart of his disciple. Like the apostle Thomas, let us accept mercy, the salvation of the world. And let us show mercy to those who are most vulnerable; for only in this way will we build a new world. [Synthesized from Pope Francis, Homilies, 19 IV 2020

Rev. Rajesh Peter M.S.C.

Second Sunday of Easter

My friends, we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus both personally and Liturgically.

Can you imagine the range of emotions the disciples experienced in today’s gospel ? 

• Jesus, their leader, was gone.  He was killed, executed – on behalf of the religious leaders.

• The disciples were both grieving and fearing for their own lives.  Maybe they would be next.

• Out of fear, they locked themselves in a room.

• All the while, they had an overwhelming sense of guilt because they ran away when Jesus was arrested.  Peter even denied knowing Jesus…

• Only John and the women stayed with Jesus during his execution.

• Their lives were in a mess, that’s for sure….

And, now, all of a sudden in the locked room stood Jesus.

And, what does he say ? “Peace be with you…” 

• He didn’t scold or reprimand them. 

• He didn’t ask, “Hey – where were you guys ?”

He said, “Peace be with you…”     “Peace be with you…”

For three years, the disciples were taught forgiveness and mercy by Jesus.  Now, they experienced His forgiveness and mercy.  What relief they must have felt…  What love they must have felt… 

My friends, the Good News for us are the next words of Jesus: “As the Father has sent me – so I send you.”

Throughout the ages, the disciples of Christ Jesus have been sent to preach and give forgiveness and mercy because they received forgiveness and mercy. 

Jesus sending his disciples was no small thing.  In John’s gospel, the word sent is so important.  It is used over 50 times by Jesus:

• “I have come – not to do my will – but the will of the one who sent me.”

• “Whoever sees me has seen the Father who sent me.”

• Disciples are sent by Christ to do the will of our Father, who sent Jesus.  Namely, to give forgiveness and mercy.

The mercy of Christ Jesus in today’s Gospel is undoubtedly the reason Pope Saint John Paul II instituted Divine Mercy Sunday in the Jubilee Year 2000.  Ever since, the Second Sunday of Easter (today) has been celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday.  Because it’s all about mercy.

• “As the Father has sent me – so I send you.”

• “As you have been shown mercy and forgiveness, Go, show mercy and forgiveness to others.”

• “Whose sins you shall forgive  – they are forgiven.”

Our Church has so many wonderful aspects and one of the greatest aspects is forgiveness.  Bringing peace and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

God our Creator sent Jesus to assure us of forgiveness and bring us peace.  Christ Jesus sent His disciples into the world with the message, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Now we, as disciples of Christ, are also sent to do the same.  To forgive those who have sinned against us and give them peace...

We have a reminder of God’s mercy every time we pray as Jesus taught us:

“Forgive us out trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…