Family Bible Study - Divine Mercy Sunday

Gospel Passage
John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut
where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and
said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his
hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus
said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send
you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained." 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called
the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him,
"We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of
the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side,
I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and
Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them,
and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and
see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but
believing." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him,
"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet believe." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Questions for discussion -
1. One of the first things Jesus did after rising from the dead was to breathe on the
Apostles and give them the power to forgive sins. This is what priests do in the
sacrament of Reconciliation. If this is one of the first things Jesus did after rising from the dead, how important do you think it is to Him?

2. Jesus said to the Apostles, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” How could they know which sins to retain and which to forgive unless somebody told them in confession? (Do you see why we have to tell the priest our sins?)

3. Jesus said to “doubting” Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
believe.” We have not seen Jesus rise from the dead with our own eyes. How can we be
blessed too?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Divine Mercy Sunday

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
OR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
We can look at Thomas as the “doubting Thomas” or
we can look at him as one who really wanted to see and
experience the Risen Lord. Thomas wanted the same
experience as the other Apostles and he wanted to touch the
Lord Jesus in order that he could know that Jesus was really
alive. We need to have that same desire to see Jesus and know
that He is risen and is in our lives.
The early Christians joined together in prayer and the
Lord revealed Himself to them in their community prayer life.
As we gather in prayer during the celebration of the Eucharist,
we can expect that the Lord will reveal Himself to us. As we
share our time, talent, and treasure with one another, as the
early Christians did, the Lord will be with us also.
It is the ninth day since Good Friday when Jesus died
for our sins. It is Divine Mercy Sunday. Accept the ocean of
mercy that Jesus has for us.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Sunday Gospel Message - Divine Mercy Sunday

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
OR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
We can look at Thomas as the “doubting Thomas,” the
one would not believe unless he could see, or we can look at
him as the “desirous Thomas,” the one who really wanted to see
the Lord. Thomas wanted the same experience as the other
Apostles and he wanted to touch the Lord Jesus in order that he
could know that Jesus was really alive. We need to have that
same desire to see Jesus and know that He is risen and is in our
lives.
A way that helps us to know Jesus in our lives is to do
what the early Christians did. They joined together in prayer
and the Lord revealed Himself to them in their communal
prayer life. As we gather in prayer during the celebration of the
Eucharist, we can expect that the Lord will reveal Himself to
us. As we share our time, talent, and treasure with one another,
as the early Christians did, the Lord will be with us also.
It is the ninth day since Good Friday when Jesus died
for our sins. It is Divine Mercy Sunday. Accept the ocean of
mercy that Jesus has for us.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Divine Mercy Sunday

Gospel Passage
John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told 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 in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my
side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Questions for Discussion
1. One of the first things Jesus did after rising from the dead was to breathe on the
Apostles and give them the power to forgive sins, which is what priests do in the
sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). If this is one of the first things Jesus did after rising from the dead, how important do you think it is to Him?

2. Jesus said to the Apostles, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” How could anyone know which sins to retain and which to forgive unless somebody told them in confession? (Do you see
the importance of confessing your sins to the priest now?)

3. Jesus said to “doubting” Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
believe.” We did not see Jesus rise from the dead with our own eyes. How can we
be blessed too?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry