Christus surréxit! - Surréxit vere, alleluia!
Christ is risen! - Risen indeed, alleluia!
This Sunday, April 12, is the eighth day of Easter. This second Sunday of Easter is celebrated as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception at the thedivinemercy.org explain this special feast in their article entitled “What is Divine Mercy Sunday?” I share some of the article here:
“In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. Today, we know that feast as Divine Mercy Sunday, named by Pope St. John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000…
“[Jesus says to St. Faustina] in her Diary entry #699: …Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy.”
I just want to highlight that strong, timely, sobering word of Jesus to Sister Faustina: “Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy.”
There are many and various situations and circumstances near and far, personally and globally that weigh on us. But the daily invitation of our Faith, especially in this Easter season, is to open our hearts to the truth that Jesus the Divine Mercy can bring about many triumphs of mercy—giving peace and new life to our situations. Big or small, the triumphs matter. They will bring peace to our hearts and slowly to the world around us.
These triumphs are brought about as we continually encounter Jesus the Divine Mercy in the Eucharist and in reconciliation and daily prayer.
Triumphs of mercy happen when we allow our attitudes, dispositions, and habits to be healed, elevated, and matured; when we welcome and live Divine Mercy in marriages and families and friendships; in how we love and serve one another. It all matters. As a pastorate, let’s generously welcome Divine Mercy, the Risen Jesus into our lives.
Hallelujah! God bless!
Fr. John
