Sunday April 27, 2025

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Jesus died on the cross and gave us his Spirit so that we could live in the forgiveness of God.

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Good News Reflection for:

2nd Sunday of Easter – Divine Mercy Sunday
April 27, 2025

Today’s Prayer:

Beloved Lord Jesus: may my reason and my senses never be an obstacle to my faith. I want to be wherever You need me. Amen.

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Powerful Catholic prayers are available on our YouTube channel.

Today’s Readings:

Acts 5:12-16
Ps 118:1-4, 13-15, 22-24
Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19
John 20:19-31
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042725.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2022-04-24

Alive in the Spirit of Mercy

This Sunday’s Gospel reading sets the stage for Pentecost. Prior to giving us the full gift of his Spirit, Jesus provides the gift of peace, the gift of his heart. A supernatural gift, it penetrates deep into our own hearts. It is the calming presence of Christ when we face challenges and difficulties.

Jesus bestowed it upon his first apostles twice in the same meeting shortly after his resurrection. Then he gave them the life-breath of God, the Holy Spirit, and commissioned them with the priesthood of forgiving the sins of others — another gift that brings peace.

This gift of peace has been distributed by Jesus ever since, through the ordained priesthood in what we now call the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And to hold us steady in our efforts to remain holy, Jesus still gives us the breath of God. This breath, this life-sustaining presence of God’s Spirit, which created the world and which keeps us spiritually alive, is the Holy Spirit — God’s holiness activating us and dwelling within us.

Whatever is not holy — not of the Spirit — is sinful and destructive. Jesus, who is the embodiment of Divine Mercy, died on the cross and gave us his Spirit so that we could live in the forgiveness of God.

Whenever you pray the “Our Father”, do it slowly and intentionally, and pay attention to these words: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Think of the people who have irritated you the most or who have continued to behave hurtfully without remorse. Consciously forgive them during this prayer.

Otherwise, your unforgiveness could affect their eternal souls as well as your own, because you’re denying them an opportunity to understand God’s forgiveness through your example, and you’re denying God the opportunity to forgive you for your sin of unforgiveness.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean approving of the sin nor forgetting what was done. It means letting go of the desire to retaliate. It means choosing to love whether it’s deserved or not. It means entering anew into Christ’s gift of peace.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
Who in your life is hardest to forgive? Perhaps it’s yourself! What sins are you retaining by refusing to accept that God has already made his forgiveness available through the cross and resurrection? What are you going to do this week to let go of the unforgiveness?

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Name a situation that illustrates the resurrection power of forgiveness. How did the Holy Spirit help make forgiveness easier to do? What changed when forgiveness was given? How did this bring the kingdom of God to earth?

To help you reflect further on this go to our video: “Forgiving: 3 Reasons Why It’s So Hard & What To Do About It” @ https://gnm-media.org/3-reasons-forgiving-hard/.

© by Terry A. Modica, Good News Ministries

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