Last week as we celebrated Easter’s promise of new life, we heard news of death in Sri Lanka, where four hotels and three Catholic churches were bombed. Early reports counted over 200 fatalities and over 500 wounded. Sorely in need of God’s healing mercy, we will conclude the octave of Easter with the Feast of Divine Mercy. The gospel account of Jesus appearing to Thomas, inviting him to touch his wounds reminds us that Jesus, risen and victorious, remains mindful of the suffering of our world and of ourselves and offers to us the gift of his mercy and the challenge to be merciful to others. Let us celebrate the feast by comforting those who have experienced violence and by praying for the conversion of those who inflict harm, on others. In doing this we, like Mary, will be witnesses to Christ’s saving presence.