My Dear Friends,
Easter is too big for just one day.
While the world moves on quickly after Easter Sunday, the Church continues to celebrate. In fact, we celebrate Easter for eight full days — what we call the Octave of Easter. It’s as if one day simply isn’t enough to hold the joy of resurrection.
This second Sunday of Easter brings that octave to a close, but not the season. Easter continues for fifty days, leading us toward Pentecost. We are still living in the light of resurrection. We are still learning what it means that Christ is risen. This Sunday is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. And in many ways, mercy is at the heart of Easter.
After the resurrection, Jesus does not return with anger or resentment. Instead, he comes with peace. He meets his frightened disciples with gentleness. He shows them his wounds. He breathes peace upon them. He offers mercy.
This is the rhythm of Easter:
peace instead of fear…
hope instead of despair…
mercy instead of judgment…
new life where we thought everything was over.
Easter reminds us that God’s mercy is always unfolding — quietly, gently, faithfully — even when we don’t fully see it yet.
And so, as we celebrate this Eighth Day of Easter, we remember:
Easter is not over.
Resurrection is still unfolding.
And mercy continues to meet us, right where we are.
Perhaps this week, that mercy can look something like this:
finding the courage to move forward after something difficult…
allowing hope to return where we thought it had faded…
simply allowing ourselves to begin again…
or offering kindness, mercy, or forgiveness where it might not be expected.
Because resurrection is not only something we celebrate —
it is something we begin to notice, reflect, and quietly live, as it continues to unfold in our lives each day.
The Lord is Risen. He is Risen Indeed. Alleluia!
Love, Peace and Blessings,
Father Jerry