It was before the crucifixion, Jesus went to his disciples and told them, “I’m leaving now, but where I go, you also will go. My father is preparing a place for you in paradise.” 

And it was the same Thomas who said to Jesus, “Where are you going? We don’t know where you’re going. How are we supposed to know the way?” The same Thomas who didn’t understand that Jesus was preparing a place for all of us in paradise. 

But because of that question between Thomas and Jesus, Jesus responded to Thomas and said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” 

“I’m the way, the truth and the life. Believe in me.” And so Thomas did. 

Here we have Thomas again a second time. Now it’s his fellow disciples, the fellow apostles telling him, “Jesus rose from the dead.” Same Thomas who’s got the doubts. But because of his doubts, when he eventually did see Jesus, again, there’s that beautiful interaction between Jesus and Thomas. when Thomas finally came to believe, Jesus gave us those beautiful words, “Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.” Who are those who believe and have not seen yet all of us? Blessed are we who believe and have not seen. 

I’m appreciative of Thomas for his questions because when he asks those questions, we get these beautiful proclamations from Jesus that support us on our faith. I’m the way, the truth and the life. And blessed are those who believe and have not seen. 

Jesus desires for us to believe and he desires for us to have life. Now that desire, Jesus’ desire for us to have life was captured in an image that was revealed to a Sister Faustina Kowalska 90 years ago. Ninety years ago an image was revealed to her of blood and water flowing from the heart of Jesus and it was captured in the beautiful divine mercy image. Blood and water and its crucifixion flowing from Jesus’ heart which symbolized the love and the mercy that Jesus have, has for all of us. 

I really appreciate this image that Sister Faustina has given us and this image is taken off around the whole world and so many churches now have the image of Jesus’ divine mercy where mercy and love are flowing from his heart in the image of water and blood. This image has taken root in our catholic culture and there’s so many people who pray. Feverously, they pray that Jesus’ mercy and love continue to be all of ours.  

Sister Faustina Kowalska really was a gift of a reminder of Jesus’ mercy. In fact, John Paul II called her the secretary of mercy 25 years ago during the Jubilee Year for Mercy. He called Sister Faustina the secretary of mercy because of the visions that she had. 

May we, as we come together today, having celebrated Easter now in the second week, may we remember that Jesus’ love and mercy flows out upon us. May we receive that love and mercy and pass it on to others. 

Amen?