Divine Mercy Sunday
There are many Catholics that are
away from the Church and out of practice of their faith. There is a great need
for evangelization. Not only are we all called to actively evangelize to all
peoples, as a priority we are called to bring home our lost and alienated
brothers and sisters. Our Lord has given us a great
gift in Divine Mercy Sunday.
Jesus gave
us many parables that would set the standard for us to
follow. He told us how the Good Shepherd rejoiced at
finding His lost sheep. There are many lost sheep that
need to be found today. Not only does He rejoice when
the sheep are found, but He is very much saddened when
even just one is lost.
In His
revelations to Saint Faustina, which He gave for the
world, Jesus remarked that “The loss of each soul
plunges me into mortal sadness” and that “The flames of
mercy are burning me, clamoring to be spent” (from the
Saint Faustina’s diary, entry #1397, 50). If we love
Jesus, then we must do everything that we can, to find
His lost sheep.
Our Lord
has given us a very simple way to bring our lost sheep
back home. It is called the “Feast of Mercy” or “Divine
Mercy Sunday.” This great feast, which the Church has
been celebrating universally since Pope John Paul II
canonized Saint Faustina in the year 2000, has
everything in it that we need to restore our Church.
Jesus requested that a Feast of Mercy be established
in the Church on the Sunday after Easter. It is quite
clear that Jesus wants this particular Sunday to be set
apart. Our Lord said, “I desire that the Feast of Mercy
be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially
for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of my
tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of
graces upon those souls who approach the fount of my
mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive
Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins
and punishment. On that day are opened all the divine
floodgates through which graces flow. Let no soul fear
to draw near to me, even though its sins be as scarlet.”
(Diary, 699)
That’s
not all. Jesus said “I want to pour out my divine life
into human souls and to sanctify them, if only they were
willing to accept my grace. The greatest sinners would
achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in my
mercy.” (Diary, 1784)
Trust is
a key word for Divine Mercy. Our Lord in His great
wisdom knew that in these times, the words “Jesus, I
trust in you!” would have a profound meaning for those
who might need some motivation to come to Him and to ask
for His mercy.
God
knows that many people are looking for a good reason to
start coming back to church. What better reason than to
be able to start over again with a great promise for the
total forgiveness of sins and punishment? Who wouldn’t
benefit from that?
Topping
that off is the fact that Jesus said that “The greatest
sinners would achieve great sanctity.” What could be
more beneficial? It’s so simple. This is Divine Mercy
Sunday. What a great gift Jesus has given us! Share
God’s Mercy with someone in need of reconciling with
Holy Mother Church.
In the Love and Mercy of God,
Father Steven
C. Rogers |
