Alleluia Peace!

Greetings on this the Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Notes: Acts 2:42-47; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Pt 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31

We are an Alleluia People!

We are on the final day of the Octave of Easter.

Easter season continues a total of seven weeks and concludes with Pentecost.

Our Easter candle remains in prominent view the entire time. This is our most joyful season.

But these eight days, this Octave of Easter is a period of complete and intense praise. Our Joy of all Joys!

It began at the Easter Vigil where during the Exsultet I entoned from right here:

Let this holy building shake with Joy, filled with the mighty voices of the people.

We did exactly that and every day since including today. Yes? YES???? This is our great expression of gratitude to the Lord. We will again all throughout the Mass express gratitude and in the dismissal: the double alleluia!

Exsultet Music Sheet: https://gerrypalermo.files.wordpress.com/2023/04/wp-1681556571261.pdf

Exsultet at East Vigil: (scroll down on page for link) https://www.stmarkboynton.com/mass-times

Gratitude is the oldest known written phrase in holy scripture. Appropriate, I’d say.

The oldest portion of the Old Testament is the Song of Moses (Ex 15 and PS 118) is a Praise Ya song!

And of that the oldest of the old scripture is Ex 15:21

Sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

By the way: the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, while all the women went out after her with tambourines, dancing; and she responded to them:

Sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

We praise G-d (alleluia means Praise -ye-Yah-YHWH!- allelu -Ya!).

• Alleluia is the phrase in Greek.

• Hallelujah is the phrase in Hebrew.

Hallel is praise. Yah is short for YHWH.

Why such high praise?

Mercy. God’s mercy is His benevolent goodness in so far as it removes the tribulation of creatures, especially the tribulation of sin (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Dr. Ludwig Ott, 1954).

• Leading up to Easter in Lent, we come to terms with the need for Mercy.
• Jesus on the Cross brings Mercy.
• His Resurrection proves the power of Mercy!

Mercy is

Mercy is the single most subscribed attribute of the attributes of God. Mercy and justice are wonderfully intertwined.

Mercy is not merely an expression of his love and goodness, but an expression of his Majesty and Power.

Because we are made in his image and called to his likeness, we too must express mercy and goodness which reveals his Majesty and Power!

We are given to be and spread Mercy!

Don’t doubt.
Believe!

Saint Faustina is closely aligned with Divine Mercy Sunday. I will give you the Franciscan view.

From Franciscan Media:

Because Sister Maria Faustina knew that the revelations she had already received did not constitute holiness itself, she wrote in her diary: “Neither graces, nor revelations, nor raptures, nor gifts granted to a soul make it perfect, but rather the intimate union of the soul with God. These gifts are merely ornaments of the soul, but constitute neither its essence nor its perfection. My sanctity and perfection consist in the close union of my will with the will of God.”

Reflection

Devotion to God’s Divine Mercy bears some resemblance to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In both cases, sinners are encouraged not to despair, not to doubt God’s willingness to forgive them if they repent. As Psalm 136 says in each of its 26 verses, “God’s love [mercy] endures forever.”

Even more, in my words.

Saint Faustina is a Saint and expresses the Lord in two significant ways:

She became Mercy. In a manner of speaking she has taken up the Easter work of mercy. The Lord’s Secretary. Sr. Mary Faustina as the Apostle and “Secretary” of His Mercy.

She sought and remained in the inner life of God. Her diary is replete with visions, signs, miracles, trials, and tribulations but what sets her apart is her unwavering desire for the salvation of souls.

And in her own sanctification, intimate union with God.

What do you think of this event in our Gospel portion today: Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

In its literal and immediate sense, a proof of the resurrection. In the spiritual sense, an invitation.

Jesus offers Thomas and all of us to enter the inner place of the person of God. These wounds, these holes were meant to harm him. But in the mercy of God become the very port of entry to the divine life.

Time permitting. One of two stories.

1. Think before you Ink.

2. The Origin of the Gregorian Chant.

• Notes:
  • Gallican, Gaul, Scottish.
  • Roman chant.
  • Galicia Chant.
  • Style differences between…
• Gregorian chant.
  • Carolingian
  • Traces of Gallican chant in the 16 note Alleluias.
  • Syllabic chants mostly have one note per syllable. In neumatic chants there are mostly two or three notes per syllable, while melismatic chants have lots of notes for one syllable.

Practice double Alleluia

with the people to make

this holy building shake.

First Reading
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Responsorial
Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Second Reading
At the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel Acclamation
You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe!

Gospel
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry