Today we celebrate the Second Sunday of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. In contemporary society, the concept of "mercy" is often overlooked in conversation and action, or stripped of its meaning. We turn to the Gospel to recover its authenticity and purpose. Today’s Gospel describes the disciples gathered in fear, weighed down by failure, guilt, and shame.

During Holy Week, we reflect on the suffering, rejection, and death of Jesus, and honestly, it is not always easy to sit with those moments. Some of us may find it challenging and confusing, as it must have been for the first disciples. The Master they trusted and followed was captured, crucified, and eventually died on the cross. What they hoped for a better future seemed to fall apart. When we reflect on this, it reminds us that we also go through times in life when things feel uncertain or heavy.

The Catholic Church concludes the Christmas season by celebrating the Baptism of Our Lord. Today’s first reading comes from the prophet Isaiah, who prophesied to the Israelites during the Babylonian Exile in the middle of the sixth century before Christ. In this time of darkness, Isaiah proclaimed, “Here is my servant whom I uphold… upon whom I have put my spirit.” God’s messenger came to the people at their lowest point, promising that a servant would restore justice, peace, and hope.