Acts 5:12-16;
Ps 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24;
Jn 20: 19-31. Full Readings
Sent to be instruments of Mercy
In 1931 (22nd February), our Lord appeared to St. Faustina in a vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of the Heart, from where two large rays came forth, one red and the other pale. She gazed intently at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with awe, but also with great joy. Jesus said to her: Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory (Diary, 47, 48). I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You (Diary, 327). I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world (Diary, 47).
At the request of her spiritual director, St. Faustina asked the Lord about the meaning of the rays in the image. She heard these words in reply: The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him (Diary, 299). By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (Diary, 742). It was on April 30th, 2000 that Pope John Paul II instituted the Divine Mercy Sunday, and canonized St Maria Faustina.
Devotion to Divine Mercy is an ought for every Christian. It is the way through which we come back to God and where we find forgiveness. In the diary of the Divine Mercy it is written, "Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary of Divine Mercy, 699). This therefore clearly shows, we have to turn to devotion to his Mercy for our peace to reign again especially in the contemporary world where we human beings are becoming gods. We really need to be devoted to the Divine Mercy otherwise, we will live in chaos.
The readings today also show some aspects of Divine Mercy especially the Gospel. After Jesus had appeared to his disciples, he gave them a sign of peace, but also commissioned them through the power of the Holy Spirit to be instruments of his Mercy. He tells then whatever sins you forgive, they are forgiven and for those you retain, they are retained. Today therefore, we celebrate the institution of the sacrament of Reconciliation. As Catholics, when we have sinned, we have a chance to turn back to God through the sacrament of reconciliation, in which Jesus shows us his mercy and forgives us our sins. This is the greatest act of Mercy Jesus has shown us because God gave that power to forgive sins to our priests; his mercy endures forever. As the promises of Divine Mercy demands, whoever goes for confession today and also feel remorse for his or her sins and repent with a contrite heart, and receive holy communion will receive total forgiveness of sins, let us endeavour to go for confession today, and it is not possible, then let's go deep into our hearts and feel sorry as Pope Francis urges us; God will forgive us and we shall get the promise of full forgiveness of sins.
This commissioning was for them to be instruments of Mercy which is also for all Christians. We ought to forgive so that we will also be forgiven. With this we will experience the mercy of God and so live in peace and Harmony. There are surely sometimes when we doubt God's mercy for us because of many sins we commit, but as the Psalmist says today, God's mercy endures forever. Let us use this doubt, to build our faith stronger as St Thomas who had doubted the resurrection f our Lord. Hid doubt made him make the greatest confession of faith, "my Lord and my God." Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said of this instance of St. Thomas, “It comforts us in our insecurity… because it shows us that every doubt can lead to an outcome brighter than any uncertainty; and, lastly, because the words that Jesus addressed to him remind us of the true meaning of mature faith and encourage us to persevere, despite the difficulty, along our journey of adhesion to him.” Let us take great comfort in this brother and Apostle, Thomas, and like him, let the Lord draw our hands to his own, to find in Thomas’s woundedness our own, and to gain strength for the journey of faith before us.
Reflect today on the Divine Mercy devotion, on how Jesus loves you and how he is always waiting to receive you in the abode of his Mercy. Our duty is to be aware of this mercy, show it to others and we will be saved. Let us pray that the Lord will increase our love of devotion to the Divine Mercy and that for the sake of his sorrowful passion God will have Mercy on us and on the whole world.
Let us Pray
Eternal God in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but, with great confidence, submit ourselves to your holy will, which is love and mercy itself. Amen (Diary, 950)
Peace be with You and Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday
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