Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today, on this 2nd Sunday of Easter—Divine Mercy Sunday—we are reminded of the depth of God’s love and forgiveness. In the Gospel (John 20:19-31), we see the Risen Christ appearing to His disciples, offering them peace and breathing the Holy Spirit upon them, giving them the power to forgive sins.

This is the heart of Divine Mercy: that even in our weakness, Christ meets us with peace, not condemnation.

Dear Fellow Disciples, Peace.

Today is the greatest day in our faith—Jesus is risen! The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. Love has won.

The disciples came to the tomb expecting to find a body, but instead they found a surprise—a new beginning. At first, they were confused. But slowly, joy broke through. That same joy is offered to us today.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today we begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday, a day of striking contrast. We start by waving palms and shouting “Hosanna!” welcoming Jesus as King. But not long after, we listen to the Passion narrative, and we hear another cry: “Crucify Him!”

How quickly the crowds turned. How quickly hearts can shift—from praise to rejection, from loyalty to betrayal. It’s easy to judge them, but if we’re honest, we see ourselves in them. We, too, can welcome Jesus when life is going well, but struggle to stay with Him in the trials.

In today’s Gospel, we encounter a powerful moment of mercy. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, hoping to trap Him with the Law of Moses. But instead of condemning her, Jesus responds with wisdom and compassion: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, they leave, and Jesus says to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”