Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)

In his book titled Miracle on the River Kwai, Ernest Gordon recounts the story of British soldiers who were prisoners of war, forced by their captors to work on a jungle railroad. The suffering they endured led the prisoners to develop a deep hatred for their captors, and their relationships with one another deteriorated into division and bitterness.

One day, a shovel went missing. Enraged, the officer in charge demanded its return. However, none of the prisoners moved or spoke up. In response, the officer raised his gun and threatened to start killing them on the spot if the person responsible did not come forward. It was clear he was serious. At that moment, one of the prisoners stepped forward, trembling, and bowed his head. Without hesitation, the officer shot him.

Afterward, the officer ordered a recount of all the tools to ensure nothing else was missing. To everyone's shock, the second count revealed that no shovels had been missing; it had simply been a miscount the first time.

Word spread rapidly throughout the camp that an innocent man had laid down his life to save the others. His sacrifice had a profound impact. The prisoners began to treat each other like brothers. When the victorious Allies eventually arrived, the surviving soldiers—barely recognizable as human beings—stood between their captors and the Allies. Instead of seeking revenge, they protected the soldiers, proclaiming, "No more hatred, no more killing. Now we want forgiveness!" One man's sacrificial love transformed them all.

The image of God's love for us is vividly portrayed in Jesus's death on the Cross, and this image transforms us. While Jesus has risen from the dead, there is a profound reason why He remains on the Cross: whenever any member of His body suffers, He suffers as well. Just as our heads experience pain when our bodies are injured, Jesus, as the head of the Church, shares in our suffering.

Eight days after His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Apostles. He stretched out His hands and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands; and bring your hand and put it into my side."

Instead of saying, "Look at my hands; look at my side. See the wounds," Jesus invites Thomas to enter into His wounds: "Put your hand into my side." This invitation is a call to unite our flesh with His flesh and our sufferings with His. Jesus remains on the Cross because we, His body, face many trials and sufferings.

The sacrifice of one soldier inspired his comrades with a powerful example of love. However, the inspiration that Jesus provides is infinitely greater. He breathes His Spirit into us, providing true inspiration. He enters into our experience and takes our wounds upon Himself to bear our sufferings alongside us. Jesus will remain on the Cross with us until the last member of His body shares in His resurrection and ascends with Him into the kingdom of heaven.