Pope: Like Thomas, we contemplate the wounds of the Risen One and, in the Jubilee, we welcome God’s love
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Like the Apostle Thomas, "we too, in this second Sunday of Easter, are invited to contemplate the Divine Mercy in the wounds of the Risen Christ, which surpasses all human limitations and shines on the darkness of evil and sin.” Indeed, “Thomas is not someone who just accepts things; he wants to find out about things, check them out in person, have his own personal experience,” said Pope Francis before today’s Regina Caeli on the feast day of the Divine Mercy.
After the long Mass marking the centennial anniversary of the Armenian genocide, the pope spoke about today's Gospel. "Eight days after the first Passover, just like today, Jesus came back to join his people and turned right away to Thomas, inviting him to touch the wounds in his hands and side. He reached out to his (Thomas’) disbelief so that, through the marks of the passion, he might achieve the fullness of the Pascal faith.”
“Thomas,” the pope said, "is not someone who just accepts things; he wants to find out about things, check them out in person, have his own personal experience. After an initial struggle full of anxiety, he moved forward with difficulty but eventually came to believe. Jesus was waiting for him, patiently, and offered himself to the difficulties and insecurities of the last one.”
“The Lord proclaims "Blessed” those who have not seen but have believed (Jn 20:29). The first one was his mother, Mary. Yet, he reached out to the doubting apostle – "Put your finger here and see my hands . . ." When confronted with the salvific contact of the wounds of the Risen Lord, "Thomas showed his own wounds, tears, and humiliation. In the nail marks, he found the decisive proof that he was loved, desired, and understood. He faced a Messiah full of gentleness, mercy, and tenderness. He was the Lord he was looking for in the secret depths of his being, because he had always known that it was so.”
“After discovering the personal contact with Christ’s kindness and merciful patience, Thomas realised the deep meaning of the Resurrection and, inwardly transformed, he declared his full and complete faith in him, crying out ‘My Lord and my God!’ What a beautiful expression."
Like the apostle "we too, in this second Sunday of Easter, are invited to contemplate the Divine Mercy in the wounds of the Risen Christ, which surpasses all human limitations and shines on the darkness of evil and sin.”
“The upcoming Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will be an intense and long period of time to welcome the immense riches of God’s merciful love, whose Bull of Indiction I promulgated last night in St Peter's Basilica.”
"Jesus Christ is the Misericordiae Vultus, the Face of Mercy. Let us keep our gaze fixed upon Him, for He is always seeking us, waiting for us, forgiving us. So merciful, he is not afraid of our miseries. He heals us and forgives all of our sins. And the Virgin Mother helps us be merciful to others as Jesus is to us."
Following the Marian prayer and greetings to various communities, Francis addressed the Eastern communities. "I extend a cordial greeting to the faithful of the Eastern Churches who, according to their calendar, celebrate Holy Easter today. I join in the joy of their proclamation of the Risen Christ: Christos Anesti!"
"Let us give them a round of applause for this great feast (the crowd cheers). Greetings also for the Armenian pilgrims who came to Rome for the Mass with my brothers, the Armenian Patriarchs and Bishops".
Finally, Francis said that in recent weeks, he "received a lot of messages of Easter Greetings from all over the world. I return them with gratitude.”
“From the bottom of my heart, let me thank all the children, seniors, families, dioceses, parishes, religious communities, institutions and various associations, who expressed to me their affection and closeness. Please, continue to pray for me!”
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