In the Roman Catholic Church, we are accustomed to calling the Second Sunday of the Easter season (also referred to as the first Sunday after Easter) Divine Mercy Sunday.
In 2000, St. John Paul II canonized the Polish religious mystic Faustina Kowalska, and during his homily officially designated the Second Sunday of Easter “Divine Mercy Sunday.” The name was in response to one of Jesus' requests to St. Faustina in a private revelation.
The fact that Divine Mercy Sunday occurs on the same day when both the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Catholic Churches read the Gospel account of St. Thomas' encounter with the Risen Jesus is no coincidence.
St. John Paul II commented on the connection of the Gospel in his last Regina Caeli address:
Today the glorious Alleluia of Easter resounds. Today's Gospel from John emphasizes that on the evening of that day he appeared to the Apostles and "showed them his hands and his side" (Jn 20: 20), that is, the signs of the painful passion with which his Body was indelibly stamped, even after the Resurrection. Those glorious wounds, which he allowed doubting Thomas to touch eight days later, reveal the mercy of God who "so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (Jn 3: 16).
This mystery of love is at the heart of the liturgy today, the Second Sunday of Easter, dedicated to the devotion of Divine Mercy.
Thomas Sunday
In many Eastern Catholic Churches (as well as the Orthodox Church), the same Gospel is proclaimed, and an icon of Thomas touching Jesus' side is venerated.
What's interesting is the inscription on the icon, which the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix explains:
It is worth noting that the inscriptions of Icons of this event never say “Unbelief” or “Doubting” regarding Thomas. In Greek, the inscription reads Η ψηλάφηση του Θωμά, that is, the “Touching of Thomas,” making no reference to Thomas’ doubt and implying Jesus touching Thomas, both in body and soul, and not the other way around.
This emphasizes Jesus' pursuit of each one of us and his desire to pour forth his Mercy upon us.
Many paintings of this scene have a similar theme, with Jesus guiding Thomas' hand into his side. Jesus was the one inviting Thomas into his most Sacred Heart.
The Kontakion for this Sunday makes reference to the life Jesus imparts:
Thomas touched Your life-giving side with an eager hand, O Christ God, / when You did come to Your apostles through closed doors. / He cried out with all: You are my Lord and my God!
The Second Sunday of Easter is a beautiful Sunday in the Easter season and is one way in which the East and West unite in liturgical symbolism.
