The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was promoted in the 18th and 19th centuries, beginning in Italy. The month has traditionally been dedicated to new life long before that. The Greeks dedicated the month to Artemis, the goddess of fertility. The Romans dedicated it to Flora, the goddess of blossoms.

Divine Mercy Sunday was assigned to the Sunday after Easter by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000. Pope John Paul II will be beatified this year on Divine Mercy Sunday. The inspiration for the feast comes from a vision in 1931 and entries in the diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-38), a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47

The sacred author writes this summary of the success of the preaching of the early Church. He describes four characteristics of the Church in Jerusalem: the teaching of the Apostles, the communal life, the breaking of bread and the prayers. “Wonders and signs” were keywords for the work of God, although are reversed in order in the Old Testament.

“Breaking bread” is a reference to the celebration of the Eucharist in the early Church. It appears that early Jewish Christians continued to meet for prayer in the Temple, but they had an added celebration. Homes became places of worship. The more literal meaning of “in their homes” is “from house to house.” Even in Rome, there are several Churches that were built over an earlier “house church,” before separate buildings were used for Christian celebrations.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9

The reference to ordeals by the Christians in this letter suggests that it was written after the death of Peter and Paul. “New birth” is the baptism of the believer into the faith. It is the sign of conversion. In the face of the suffering of believers in this letter, the virtue of hope assumes a prominent position. It is not delusional. It is “living.” It comes from the new birth of the Christian. The inheritance is an Old Testament concept that is related to the promises of God in the covenant.

“Trials” refer to a testing that forms the believer. It isn’t a test of strength, but the test that brings about strength by endurance. Faith is an absolute trust and confidence in God. It is proven by removing the distractions and excuses for not living out the vision offered to the believer. The basis for that deep trust is “the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

The “genuineness of your faith” comes about through testing. It is the initiative of God, “the revelation of Jesus Christ,” that makes the goal of faith possible – “the salvation of your souls.” Soul is not separated from the body here. It refers to the entire person. Also, salvation has a present reality for daily living. It is not simply something to wait for at death.

Gospel: John 20:19-31

In this passage, the evangelist uses the term “the Jews” as a group that is hostile to Jesus. It is not a reference to all Jews, since the followers of Jesus were also Jews! Jesus appears to “the disciples,” not just to the Twelve. The evangelist envisions the successors of these earliest disciples, the later members of the Church, to be witnesses to the Risen Christ in their midst as well. This concern of the evangelist is reflected in recording the response of Jesus to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen…” None of the Twelve were named as being at the foot of the Cross, when Jesus died. Nor were they the first to be at the tomb on Easter morning. The breath of Jesus on the disciples recalls the first act of creating mankind in Genesis 2:7.

Three times in this passage, Jesus says: “Peace be with you.” The Hebrew word for “peace,” “shalom,” was a standard greeting. It meant more than the absence of war. It was a wish for complete contentment and sufficiency in life.

The community is given the charge of forgiveness from its foundation. The experience of the Risen Christ in their midst demands that quality among themselves. Forgiveness was the adhesion that drew the community together around the reconciler of all sins.

Jesus wears the mark of His Passion — the nail marks — when He appears to Thomas. Thomas recognizes Him, thus confirming His identity as the Risen One. This same description of the “Lamb that was slain” will be the victor over death in the Book of Revelation.

The final verse of this passage appears to be the original ending to the Gospel of John. It will continue for another chapter with another conclusion, but this line sums up the purpose of the entire Gospel. Also, the Gospel did not end with the empty tomb. It was the appearance to the disciples and their belief in him that complete the “sign” of the identity of Jesus Christ. After each of the seven signs (or miracles) in the Gospel of John, the evangelist concludes with someone coming to believe in Jesus. The greatest sign tells us to expect that there will be many more signs, too, that Jesus will do “in the presence of His disciples.”

One of the worst experiences in my entire ordained ministry was teaching seventh-grade boys in a religious education class. Despite the many hardships of that year, there was one shining moment, when I asked them to tell me in their own words what they thought the Bible was. One of them answered without hesitation: “It is a record of faith.” I was astounded! That really summed up the intention of the biblical authors and the evangelists. The Scriptures are a testimony written by a people of faith to a people of faith. His few words put it altogether. I have never forgotten it, and I have used it frequently in discussing the Bible with parish groups ever since. How would you describe the Bible? What “sign” do you recognize in it?