Sunday 12th April – Divine Mercy Sunday

Reflection: Acts 4: 32-35

RICH IN MERCY

Many say, “I have done too much evil; the dear Lord cannot forgive me.” That is an outright blasphemy which sets a limit to God’s mercy. But it has none: it is infinite. Nothing offends our dear Lord so much as to doubt his mercy. ST. JOHN VIANNEY

At the dawn of the new millennium, Pope St John Paul II canonized St Faustina Kowalska on 30th April 2000, the Second Sunday of Easter. At the canonization, the Pope proclaimed that the feast of Divine Mercy was henceforth to be celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of Easter. St Faustina was an uneducated Polish nun through whom God gave the message of divine mercy to the world shortly before the outbreak of World War II. It was a time of great suffering in the world as people recovering from the First World War were being plunged into another series of war again. God reminded the world that mankind can know no peace unless it turns to Him for mercy.

The essence of this message is to remind the world of God’s merciful love toward every human being, even the greatest sinner. It is a call for us to embrace God’s mercy with complete trust and pray for mercy for the entire world. Jesus told St Faustina, “I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My merciful Heart.” As we celebrate the risen Christ, God calls you and I to experience the richness of His mercy and spread the message to everyone around us.

What is it that is driving you far from God? Is it a past experience you cannot get over or a sinful pattern in your life? The floodgates of God’s mercy are open wide in a special way today. All He requires of you is trust. As you embrace the mercy of God today, you will be overwhelmed and like the early believers in today’s reading you will be able to testify to Jesus’ great mercy with confidence and bring even hardened sinners back to God.

PRAYER: Lord, I run into your merciful hands today. Please have mercy on me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 314 – How do we know that God is merciful?

In many passages in Sacred Scripture God shows that he is merciful, especially in the parable of the merciful father (Lk 15) who goes out to meet his prodigal son, accepts him unconditionally, and celebrates his return and their reconciliation with a joyful banquet.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Acts 4: 32-35; Psalm 118: 2-4, 15-18, 22-24; 1 John 5: 1-6; John 20: 19-31