Today is the Second Sunday of Easter: On the Octave of Easter, the Risen Christ reappears in the Upper Room – that same room where He instituted the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Holy Orders ten days earlier and where the Pentecost gift of the Holy Spirit will be bestowed forty days later. Once more, He greets His chosen disciples, but then quickly turns His full attention to Thomas. He wants to convince Thomas that He is truly risen, and He does so by pointing to His holy wounds. Why? Those wounds on the Body of the Glorified and Risen Lord teach us several things.
(1) They show that this Jesus is not a ghost but a real flesh-and-blood Person.
(2) They serve as powerful reminders of the great love of God for us, a love so great that in Christ God died, so that our sins might be forgiven.
(3) The wounds of Christ illustrate the continuity between the earthly life and ministry of Jesus and His eternal high priesthood, by which He lives to make continual intercession for us before His Heavenly Father (cf. Hebrews 7:25).
It is not an accident that Thomas comes to faith, not by simply seeing an apparition of Jesus, but only after being instructed to pay heed to those sacred wounds, which are not scars of defeat and ignominy. They are tokens of victory and love. Because Jesus loved us to death, our sins are forgiven, and that love remains present in the Godhead forever. Therefore, when we meet Christ face to face on Judgment Day, He will look just as He did during that first Easter season. Jesus, you see, is in a unique position to judge us, precisely because He shared our human condition completely and bore the burden of our sins, which is why the Father has given over to Him the role of judgment of the human race (cf. Jn 5:22). The judgment the Lord most desperately wants to make, however, is that of forgiveness, if only we allow Him to do so.
Anima Christi:
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. O good Jesus, hear me
Body of Christ, save me. Within thy wounds hide me,
Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me. From the malicious enemy defend me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me. In the hour of my death call me, and bid
me come to Thee, that with thy saints I may praise
Thee for ever and ever. Amen
We appreciate last weekend’s Easter Sunday collection. Thank you for your very generous support despite the financial difficulties that we are now all experiencing. Thanks also to our Readers, Singers, Ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist for their wonderful help during our weekend liturgies.
Exposition: Continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm.
Shop: Open Mon to Sat – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm.
Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Wedding, Birthday, Anniversaries, Christening, New Home Bouquets & Retirement Mass Bouquets. Cost £2.
Sunday & Monday no duty. Mass Monday (17th April @ 7pm – Charles.
Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm.
Sat 5pm – 6pm. Mass: Mon – Fri @ 7pm. Tues – Brian. Wed – Charles. Thurs – Arthur.
Fri & Sat – Anthony.
Gluten-Free Hosts: If you are Coeliac and you wish to receive communion please come up to the altar and stand beside the Eucharistic Minsters where you will receive the gluten-free host.
Recently Deceased
Teresa Greene, Belcoo
Eileen Kennedy, Tempo
Rosario Breen, Glebe Park, Enniskillen
Anniversaries
Bernard and Elizabeth Breen, Stanafaley, Brookeborough
The Leonard & The Reid families, Boho & Fintona
Thomas & Catherine Hunter & the Hunter family, Dromore
Eileen & Brian O’Reilly & the Reilly Family, Baileborough
Eileen Mitchell, Riverside, Enniskillen
Bernard, Elizabeth and James Murphy, Derrylin
Joe & Mariah Mc Govern Kinawley
The Hugh Family, Kinawley
