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Dear brothers and sisters,

For the last week, we have been celebrating Easter day. In the early Church, the white baptismal garment would have been worn by those baptised at the Easter Vigil for the whole of this week, and I invite you to join with me in giving thanks to God for all those who were baptised at Easter, in particular those who are now part of our own diocesan family.

For each one of the new baptised, the journey to Easter has been one of increasing openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, often experienced as ‘little nudges’ that show us the way to conversion. This is an experience of the mercy of God, of course – and this Second Sunday of Easter is designated ‘Divine Mercy Sunday’.  

We are called to be the people St Luke describes in the first reading this Sunday – a group of believers united in heart and soul. This unity is itself a powerful witness to a world in need of a renewed awareness of the mercy of God.  

Let us pray this Divine Mercy Sunday, that each and every one of us, encouraged and strengthened by the newly baptised, will join together in the proclamation of the mercy and love that we find in the person of Jesus.  

Let us pray, too, that the disunity that is so present across the Christian communities of the world will – under the guidance of the Holy Spirit – be transformed, that all may be One in Christ, with the powerful witness that this will give.

We live in challenging times, when there are so many influences that would distract us from our living of the Gospel and its proclamation that is our mission. Let us find strength in St John’s reminder that “His commandments are not difficult” because the challenges we face, the fears that we have, are overcome by faith.

This is the faith we see in Thomas, the Apostle who doubted the Resurrection. When faced with the person of the Risen Christ, all his doubts faded away in that wonderful profession of faith: “My Lord and my God.” Filled with wonder at the presence of the Risen Lord, may Thomas’ words be ours, and may our witness bring the world to be open to the greeting of Jesus to the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room: “Peace be with you.”

With every blessing,

+ Richard

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