Peace Be With You: A Divine Mercy Sunday Reflection

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The Gospel reading (John 20:19-31) brings us back into the story of the Risen Jesus appearing to His disciples.

It is important to remember where the disciples were at this moment. They had abandoned Jesus when He needed them most. Peter had denied knowing Him. Most of them had run away when He was arrested. They were hiding behind locked doors, full of fear and guilt.

And yet, when the Risen Christ comes to them, the first words out of His mouth are not words of anger or accusation. He says, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)

It is powerful to think about that. After all the betrayal and failure, Jesus does not berate them. He does not remind them of their mistakes. He simply offers them peace. He wants them to be at peace — not weighed down by shame, but lifted up by mercy.

At every Mass, we echo these same words. We say, “Peace be with you,” to one another, just as Jesus said it to His disciples. It is a moment of forgiveness and healing, a reminder that we are not called to hold on to guilt or resentment, but to share the peace of Christ with one another.

In today’s Gospel, we also hear about Thomas, who struggles to believe until he sees Jesus with his own eyes. Jesus meets Thomas with tenderness, offering him the very proof he asked for. And then He says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29)

Divine Mercy Sunday reminds us that God’s mercy is bigger than our fear, bigger than our doubt, and bigger than our failures. Like the disciples, we do not need to earn His forgiveness. It is freely offered. All we need to do is open our hearts to receive it.

Today, we can ask ourselves:

• Am I willing to accept the peace Christ offers me?

• Can I let go of the weight of guilt and shame, and allow myself to be forgiven?

• Can I share that same peace and mercy with others?

Let us pray together:

“Jesus, I trust in You. Fill my heart with Your peace. Teach me to forgive as You forgive, and to love as You love.”

Amen.

#DivineMercySunday #IndependentCatholic #LiberalCatholic #OldCatholicChurch #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #SavannahGeorgia #HinesvilleGeorgia #TravelingLightMinistries #FaithBasedNonprofit #CatholicNonprofit #ChristianNonprofit #PeaceBeWithYou #GospelReflection #SpiritualHealing #ChristIsRisen #JesusITrustInYou #CatholicSavannah #CatholicHinesville #FaithJourney #ResurrectedChrist #NonprofitMinistry #OldCatholic #LiberalCatholicChurch #IndependentCatholicChurch #CatholicInSavannah #CatholicInHinesville