DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY : April 12, 2026

shbentley639
Apr 15
4 min read

Updated: Apr 16

We always celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, one week after we celebrate Easter in the Easter Season. It connects powerfully with John 20:19-31 where Jesus comes to his disciples to offer his PEACE and forgiveness. He empowers them to continue God's MISSION to restore God's friendship with ALL of us.

On Divine Mercy Sunday we enjoy learning about the Mercy of God.
Read the Gospel passage John 20:19-31. What is most interesting to you?

Watch Video: https://youtu.be/FxmGFQYHilI?si=OFqLI05R6W64dNMS

¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

²⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

²³Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas.

²⁴Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

²⁵So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

²⁷Then 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.”

²⁸Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Conclusion.^[

³⁰Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book.

³¹But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this BELIEF you may have life in his name.

Look at a copy of the actual Divine Mercy Image of Jesus created for Sister Faustina in 1931 as Jesus requested. Out of His heart would come two rays of light: one red and one white. These rays of light are to remind us that when He was crucified, blood and water came from His heart when it was pierced.
This image was to serve as a reminder that Jesus wants to forgive the sins of anyone who comes to Him with a humble and contrite heart.
This happens in the Sacrament of RECONCILIATION or CONFESSION which he instituted when he met with disciples in John 20:19-31.
He wants to pour His MERCY out upon the whole world.
The image would also include a message that says "JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU." Whenever we look at this image, we are reminded of God’s great gift of mercy.
Jesus spoke to Sister Faustina and she recorded his words in her diary.
He told her that He wanted her to help Him to let the world know a special message — the message of Divine Mercy.
Jesus wanted the world to know of His great love for people even though we sin.
He wanted people to know that all they had to do was ask Him for His mercy and, with the help of the Sacraments, He would give it.
He also asked all of us to forgive each other when we hurt one another just as He forgives our sins.
Lastly, He wanted us all to trust in Him with our whole hearts.
Discuss the painting as a family using the following questions:

What do the rays on the Divine Mercy image represent?

They represent the blood and water that came forth from the heart of Jesus on the Cross after His heart was pierced.

THINK of the WATER representing the Sacrament of Baptism where the divine life of LIVING WATER is poured into US

THINK of the BLOOD as representing the Sacrament of the EUCHARIST where we receive Jesus sacrificial offering of His BLOOD poured out for us to re-connect us to GOD in friendship!

They also represent the MERCY God wants to pour out on the world.

Why do you think we celebrate Jesus’ Divine Mercy on this Sunday? What does Jesus’ mercy (and this painting) have to do with the Gospel for this week?

Often, we are like Thomas, who doubt God’s love and mercy for us. Accepting God’s love and mercy requires us to have FAITH and BELIEVE in His saving works.

Notice, too, that the Divine Mercy painting shows God’s mercy pouring out from Jesus’ side (the rays of light). Thomas put his finger in Jesus’ side, feeling the wounds from His crucifixion, the very sacrifice of our salvation and God’s mercy.

Color the Divine Mercy coloring page as you reflect on God's DIVINE MERCY