“Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles.” (Acts 5:12)

The major theme for this Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on the mercy of God who has allowed His only begotten divine Son Jesus Christ to suffer, die and be resurrected to obtain for us human beings the glory of eternal life. 

The Divine Mercy Sunday is based on the devotion to the Divine Mercy that a polish sister Saint Faustina Kowalska reported as part of her encounter with Jesus Christ and is associated with special promises from the Risen Lord and the indulgences issued by the Church.

Saint Faustina recorded in her diary indicating that the Lord told her: “Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere and must not shrink from doing this or try to absolve yourself from it" (Diary 742). Christ also told her: “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary 699), especially “on the Feast of My Mercy” (Diary 1109). Pope St. John Paul II appreciated Sister Faustina that on April 30, 2000 canonized her and officially designated the Sunday after Easter as the Divine Mercy Sunday. 

Mercy means an act of kindness, compassion, favor, benevolence or forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power, to forgive a wrongdoing. I remember a story about a mother begging an emperor for clemency for her son whose offense deserved death. She said to the emperor: “I do not ask for justice. I plead for mercy.” The emperor replied: “But, he does not deserve mercy.” “Sir,” cried the mother, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.”   

No one is more merciful than our Heavenly Father who is truly “God of everlasting Mercy.” “His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 118). Every time we celebrate the holy week, paschal triduum, Easter glory and all Masses and sacraments, God gives us His divine mercy.

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to appreciate the mercy of God who has allowed His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to suffer, die and be resurrected to obtain for us the glory of our salvation.

How can we practice and promote divine mercy through all sacraments, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy? 

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.