Saints + Scripture: II Sunday of Easter

The Long Road Back, Part III of VI

Sunday, 8 April was the Second Sunday of Easter, the Octave Day of Easter, A.K.A. Divine Mercy Sunday (A.K.A. Quasimodo Sunday): Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Divine Mercy Sunday.

Scripture of That Week
Mass Readings—Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter four, verses thirty-two thru thirty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, verses two, three, & four; thirteen, fourteen, & fifteen; & twenty-two, twenty-three, & twenty-four;
The First Letter of John, chapter five, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty, verses nineteen thru thirty-one.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, our magnificent Gospel today declares that there is no greater manifestation of the divine mercy than the forgiveness of sins. We are in the upper room with the disciples, those who had denied, betrayed, and abandoned their master. Jesus came and stood in their midst. When they saw him, their fear must have intensified; undoubtedly, he was back for revenge.

Instead, he spoke the simple word "Shalom," peace. He showed them his hands and his side, lest they forget what the world (and they) did to him, but he does not follow up with blame or retribution—only a word of mercy.

And then the extraordinary commission: "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." Jesus’ mercy is communicated to his disciples, who in turn are sent to communicate it to the world.

This is the foundation for the sacrament of penance, which has existed in the Church from that moment to the present day as the privileged vehicle of the divine mercy.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Jeff Cavins: Encountering the Word.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D.: Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Fifteen
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

There are certain disciplines that are associated with the lifestyle of an athlete that could also be compared with the lifestyle of a Christian. Athletes abide by certain diets & adhere to certain training regimens. They don't stay out all night partying, because they know they have to wake early the next morning for training. All these are part of an athlete's lifestyle. So it is with the life of a Christian. There are disciplines & practices that must be embraced & respected if we are to walk faithfully along the path of salvation, fulfill our destiny, become better-versions-of-ourselves each day, & enjoy the happiness God wants to fill us with. Your journey with God will require more discipline than any other quest you will pursue in this life.

†

Otherwise, 8 April would have been the festival of Saint Walter of Pontoise, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 1030-1099, A.K.A. Gautier): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also have been the festival of Saint Julie Billiart, Virgin, S.N.D.deN. (1751-1816), foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.N.D.deN.

'Twould also have been the festival of Blessed August Czartoryski, Priest, S.D.B. (1858-1893): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also have been the festival of Blessed Domingo of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Priest, O.SS.T. (1901-1927, A.K.A. Domingo Iturrate Zubero): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Now, though the era of persecution is gone, yet our peace has its martyrdom, because though we bend not the neck to the sword, yet with a spiritual weapon we slay fleshly desires in our hearts."
—Pope St. Gregory I the Great, Doctor of the Church (540-604, feast: 3 September)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"I want to be charitable in my thoughts toward others at all times, for Jesus has said: 'Judge not, & you shall not be judged.'"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"Let us be filled with confidence & let us discard everything so as to be able to meet this onslaught. Christ has equipped us with weapons more splendid than gold, more resistant than steel, weapons more fiery than any flame & lighter than the slightest breeze… These are weapons of a totally new kind, for they have been forged for a previously unheard-of type of combat. I, who am a mere man, find myself called upon to deal blows to demons; I, who am clothed in flesh, find myself at war with incorporeal powers."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (349-407, feast day: 13 September)