Dear Friends,
Last Monday morning, we all woke up to the sad and shocking news of the death of Pope Francis. Ever since, there has been constant coverage about his life, achievements, and legacy, and speculations about his successor. We, the Catholic Community of St. Matthias, mourn his death, as we thank God for the gift he was to the Church and to the world, for the many ways he has inspired the whole world with his wisdom, compassion, and commitment to Jesus Christ. To the church, he was a reformer who made the church more welcoming and inclusive. To the world, he was a voice that called for unity, peace, and justice, especially championing the cause of those marginalized.
All this media coverage about the life and legacy of Pope Francis is truly a time of evangelization. The world is coming to know more about Jesus Christ and His mission in and through the church, and especially through the papacy. We thank God for the good shepherding that Pope Francis gave to the church and the world.
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope Francis always preached mercy, but more importantly, he practiced it. He showed everybody, in a very tangible way, the endless capacity of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Proclaiming the special Jubilee Year of Mercy of 2016, Francis reminded us that the name of God is “mercy” (Exodus 34:6) and asked us all to enter the great ocean of God’s mercy: “How many are the expressions of mercy with which God encounters us? They are numerous and it is impossible to describe them all, for the mercy of God continually increases. God never tires of showing us mercy and we should never take for granted the opportunity to receive, seek, and desire this mercy. It is something always new, which inspires awe and wonder as we see God’s immense creativity in the ways he comes to meet us.”
We know that today’s feast was instituted by St. John Paul II, in order to realize the depth of the mercy of God for each one of us personally. Saint Faustina’s diary entry # 206 has these words Jesus told her: “On the day of My feast, the Feast of Mercy, you will go through the whole world and bring fainting souls to the spring of My mercy. I shall heal and strengthen them”. Pope Francis has been an ardent promoter of divine mercy. His first book as pope is titled: The Name of God is Mercy. Four years ago, on the 90th anniversary (1931-2021) of the first apparition to St. Faustina. Pope exhorted all to “pass on the fire of Jesus’ merciful love.”
And yet, today’s gospel is about doubting the resurrection of Jesus by one of the 12 Apostles! Presenting the famous profession of Faith from Thomas, “My Lord and my God,” the Gospel illustrates how Jesus showed his mercy to this doubting apostle and emphasizes the importance of faith and surrender. Please read elsewhere in today’s bulletin what St. Thomas accomplished with his reaffirmed faith converting many in the south of India who continue to live and pass on the same faith under the large community of Syrian Christians among whom is a big segment of Catholics. The experience of Thomas invites us to be liberated from doubts and reservations about our faith, first by verbalizing our doubts and trying to get answers from those who know, and second by surrendering our lives to the Risen Lord of mercy and hope.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal