Shalom

In the liturgical year, today was the Second Sunday of Easter. Catholics also know today as "Divine Mercy Sunday."

The Gospel at Mass on this Sunday is always the account of Doubting Thomas from John Chapter 20. To read the passage, see my posts for this Sunday in 2009, 2008 and 2007.

I went to the 12:45 p.m. Mass today at the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in Soho/Nolita. In his homily on the Gospel passage, Monsignor Donald Sakano looked at how Jesus repeatedly said "Peace be with you" to the disciples behind the locked doors.

He noted that the phrase is the English translation of the Hebrew (or perhaps Aramaic) greeting "shalom," which can carry a meaning greater than what many English speakers may take from the word "peace."

For other good thoughts on Doubting Thomas, pay a visit to A Concord Pastor, Deacon Greg, Fran and Mike.

An aside: I am praying for the people of Poland following the air plane crash early Saturday morning in Russia that killed that nation's president, first lady and many other Polish leaders.

It's impossible not to observe that this tragedy occurred on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. This new observance was placed on the Church calendar by a son of Poland, Pope John Paul II, who was inspired by the writings on divine mercy by Poland's Saint Faustina.

And, while the actual calendar dates differ, John Paul II also died on an eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. This year is the fifth anniversary of his death on April 2, 2005.

The image above is "The Disbelief of Saint Thomas" or "Incredulité de Saint Thomas" by James Tissot. It's from the collection of the Brooklyn Musuem of Art.