April 11, 2021

Post date: Apr 13, 2021 2:7:31 AM

April 11, 2021 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

A little story by writer, Michelle Francl-Donnay:

On a kitchen table well-dusted with flour, my equally well-dusted son

has his hands on a sticky mound of dough. My father is leaning against

the counter behind him, coaching Chris as he turns, stretches, and

leans into the bread. Chris asks, ‘Is it done?’

My father reaches for the now-smooth ball of dough.

He has to have his hands on it, even in it, to know.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites Thomas to get close to him,

to reach within his very body. C.S. Lewis wrote,

“If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to,

or even into the thing that has them.”

How much do I want joy, peace, eternal life? Do I want these things

enough to reach into the wounded Body of Christ?

Look, Christ tells Thomas, I am risen, but the wounds remain.

Look, see me in the wounded around you.

Christ invites us to reach out for people we may not want to get close to,

to touch the wounds still present in the Body of Christ.

If you want to know me, says Christ, touch me. Reach inside. Reach for

joy, for peace, for eternal life.

Let us exclaim with Thomas, “My Lord and My God.”

How wonderful that the risen Lord came to them through locked doors

of the upper room. Though we lock ourselves away in the narrow space

of self-reproach, Jesus enters in,

overcoming whatever barrier, we set up against him.

Even when we cannot forgive ourselves, he pardons us.

Even when we deny ourselves peace of heart, he offers us Shalom.

Having been pardoned themselves,

the Apostles can share that same consolation with all of us.

This is Divine Mercy Sunday. In 1937, our Lord appeared

in private revelations to Sr. Faustina Kowalska in Poland.

He asked her to keep a diary of his messages.

He wanted the world to know about his Divine Mercy.

He asked her to get an artist to paint this image.

In 2000 the Church approved this devotion and canonized Sr. Faustina.

The way to practice this message of mercy is as easy to remember as

A-B-C:

Ask for God’s mercy

Be merciful to others

Completely trust in God’s mercy.

And so, we pray: Jesus I trust in You.

Take out a Rosary and the Holy Card as we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.