Gulf Pine Catholic • April 10, 2026 5 Compassionate Service 228-374-5650 Bradfordokeefe.com Thank you Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, St. Jude, & St. Anthony, for prayers answered. CS Thank you St. Jude, Blessed Mother, and Sacred Heart of Jesus. JO Thank you to St. Jude and our Blessed Mother, for prayers answered. JCH MERCY LIVED: Today’s first reading provides a blueprint for the ideal parish church where leaders and parishioners work in harmony to grow in faith and minister to the wider community. Members of this first-century, post-Pentecost community were devoted and zealous about their communal life, the apostles’ teachings, celebrating the Eucharist, and an intensely focused prayer life. Additionally, they put their faith and worship into action by sharing their possessions with those in need. Acts of mercy and compassion, done in the name of Jesus, are pleasing to God. “The Lord added to their number every day” (Acts 2:47). MERCY SAINTS: For those wondering what it takes to attain heaven and eternal life, the Church provides a simple answer: Be a saint! A saint is usually an ordinary person who responds to God’s call and lives a life filled with love and personal sacrifice. Someone who has experienced suffering to some degree but remains faithful to God, is remembered for their holiness, and puts others before themselves. At our reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Church requires that we choose the name of a saint we will model our lives after. Two mercy saints are Pope Sy. John Paul II, known as the mercy pope, and Sy. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. DIVINE MERCY/ EASTER JOY: Today’s Gospel exemplifies the highest acts of mercy, followed by incredible joy. John vividly describes the scene. Imagine Jesus’ disciples, still grieving about His brutal punishment and death on the cross, and wondering what their lives would be like without Him, yet fearing for their own safety from the same people who murdered their Lord. Fear keeps them locked in a room, listening for any activity that may be coming their way. One of them, Thomas, was so distressed that he couldn’t bear to be there with his friends; where he went, we do not know. Suddenly, without a sound, Jesus miraculously appeared before His ten apostles and spoke these comforting words, “Peace be with you.” As a further act of mercy, He showed them the visible signs of His nail-scarred hands and lance-pierced side. John writes, “The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20b). In this joyful yet tense moment, the next move comes from Jesus. Would He revile His apostles for their cowardly act of abandonment at His darkest hour of need? Would He single out Peter for denying Him three times? Would He express disappointment in their behavior and issue a stern warning that they are now on probation until they earn His trust again? Was the apostolic mission compromised, so that more faithful apostles must be chosen? Apparently, words of condemnation did not cross Jesus’ mind. Instead, He spoke of comfort, peace, forgiveness, and confidence, evidenced by confirming their commission. Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Divine Mercy was freely given as Jesus established the great Sacrament of mercy, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. One week later, mercy, which was so freely given to the ten, was personally extended to Thomas. Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!” You and I need God’s Divine Mercy and the joy that comes with it; now and always. The Sacrament of Reconciliation provides that. THROUGH IT ALL: Andre Crouch wrote a song titled “Through It All.” The lyrics are: “I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys, and I thank Him for the storms He has brought me through. For if I never had a problem, I’d never know that God could solve them, I’d never know what faith in His word could do. That’s the reason I say that through it all, through it all, I have learned to trust in Jesus.” Have the trials that you have encountered made your joy complete and strengthened your faith and trust in Jesus? CLOSING COMMENTS: As Disciples of Christ, we can habitually practice the virtues of love and mercy by simplifying our lives, being content with basic personal needs, and dedicating more of our time to helping others. Pray for people, but don’t just promise to pray and walk away. Pray with them on the spot, specifically asking for the Lord’s intervention into their lives -- for healing, forgiveness, or whatever their need. Focus your thoughts and actions more on forgiveness than on fault, on mercy rather than criticism, on love and compassion instead of finger-pointing or gossip, on doing more than your share rather than a minimal effort, and on offering hope, joy, and encouragement rather than negativity, gloom, and a pessimistic outlook. Like Jesus’ disciples, we are imperfect, yet we pray to become what the Lord wants us to be. Deacon Ralph Torrelli is retired and lives in Tennessee. Visit his website: www.homilypearls. com. 1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 2nd Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9 Gospel: John 20:19-31 Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) Mercy sanctified Deacon Torrelli Sunday Scripture Commentaries
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