Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Fr. Michael reflects on John 20, the gospel for Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus’ comes to his disciples and to us not to shame or blame, but to bestow his peace.
Join our email list: htoh.us/easter
John 20:19-23
On 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.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
About Season of Joy 2026
Jesus' words to the apostles on Easter Sunday were: “Peace be with you!” Jesus wants each of us to experience that same peace—a peace the world cannot give.
But our world is not at peace. Wars rage. At home we are divided. We need healing—emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
It is into this very world, just as it is, that Jesus comes to offer us His healing peace—and with that peace, the gift of joy. Pope Leo asks us to pray very intentionally for this peace.
Our series begins today on Divine Mercy Sunday and concludes on Pentecost, May 24. Each Sunday thru Friday, one of our 16 prayer guides—8 men & 8 women—lead us in prayers for healing and peace using the gift of our imaginations.
Fr. Michael reflects on John 20, the gospel for Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus’ comes to his disciples and to us not to shame or blame, but to bestow his peace.
Join our email list: htoh.us/easter
John 20:19-23
On 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.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”
About Season of Joy 2026
Jesus' words to the apostles on Easter Sunday were: “Peace be with you!” Jesus wants each of us to experience that same peace—a peace the world cannot give.
But our world is not at peace. Wars rage. At home we are divided. We need healing—emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
It is into this very world, just as it is, that Jesus comes to offer us His healing peace—and with that peace, the gift of joy. Pope Leo asks us to pray very intentionally for this peace.
Our series begins today on Divine Mercy Sunday and concludes on Pentecost, May 24. Each Sunday thru Friday, one of our 16 prayer guides—8 men & 8 women—lead us in prayers for healing and peace using the gift of our imaginations.
