By Jonathan Camiolo

 

When I was a child, my brothers and I would always play in our basement and make an absolute mess.  We would play sports, war and any games we could think of or make up.  Sometimes we would take all of the cushions off of the couches and cover the floor with them and then have wrestling matches WWF style.  Like in any physical activity involving boys, someone was always bound to get hurt.  I was the oldest brother so that meant it was my job to keep the peace.  Friends from school and the neighborhood would come over too and it would be a lot of fun.

 

I remember one afternoon that all the energy seemed to break loose and everyone was into it.  Some would say it got out of control and before you knew it someone was screaming in pain, everything in the room was knocked over, and a chair was broken.  As my mother came down the stairs everyone tried to make it seem that nothing was wrong but she knew better.  I knew as she descended those stairs that I was in big trouble.  I was right.  I was grounded...or so I thought.

 

When my father got home from work my mother explained what happened and my father called me into the family room.  He told me that he understood what happened but that it could not happen again.  It was my responsibility to make sure that it didn’t.  Instead of grounding me he told me I had another chance, but if it happened again, the punishment would be longer and stricter.  I was relieved.  MERCY!

 

This weekend is Mercy Sunday, and the readings have everything to do with that.  In the Gospel, Jesus gives Thomas a second chance to believe that He was raised from the dead.  Thomas’ faith was challenged in believing.  Jesus did not hold it against him but had mercy instead.  His mercy does not end there.  Jesus came to show all of us mercy and give us a second chance, a second chance for all humankind.  His death was for you and I, paying the price for our sin and weakness.  His resurrection, celebrated in a special way last Sunday on Easter and this whole Easter Season, opened the door of Heaven for all if that were doomed to an eternity without God.  That’s why we celebrate!  That’s MERCY!

 

Happy Easter and know that you have received mercy…have it on someone else!