Divine Mercy Sunday marks the 2nd week of Easter and in the universal church the canonization of two popes: John Paul II and John XXIII. At the core of divine mercy is the love of God. The risen Lord gives his apostles the power to forgive sins. This same power is exercised by ordained priests not on their own accord, but through the Holy Spirit. People are not at the mercy of priests when they go for confessions but at the divine mercy of God. Although Jesus said what we bind on earth is considered so in heaven, rarely would we want to do so since God has already shown his greatest act of mercy through his sons sacrifice. The best gift Jesus gave his disciples after his resurrection was peace and forgiveness. Humanly we would expect that he would give his apostles the power to eliminate his enemies. The sacrament of reconciliation traditionally practiced in the confession box is one of love and mercy. When we decide to go to a particular priest we do so because we feel the face of God is present. The confessional is not a trial chamber but a court of mercy existing between the sinner and the love of God. Jesus feels hurt when we do not proclaim enough his mercy and instead make sinners feel out of place in his place of worship. At times we do not trust in the Lord enough yet the rays of his love burn within him looking for souls to show his merciful love. No wonder Christ ordered St Faustina to put the writing on the image of his mercy with the words Jesus, I trust in you. If God forgave the greatest original sin committed by Adam and Eve, why fear or doubt about our sins which are just a photocopy? Thomas, one of Christs apostles refused to believe that Christ appeared to the rest and wanted to touch and feel the holes made by the nails during crucifixion. We forget that what appeared on the hands, side and feet of Jesus was but the wounds of our very own sins. We do not need to go far or outside ourselves to touch or feel the woulds because we have them in our lives and heart. What we need to do is trust in the Lords mercy by believing he truly died and rose. Let his wounds be a healing occasion for us. We celebrate saints of our lifetime because God has shown them his love. Even if we would be perfect as human beings, Gods mercy would still be necessary for us to become saints. In this great Sunday whereby two great popes are canonized in the presence of two living popes (Francis and Benedict XVI), we get encouraged not because they are popes, but because they lived exemplary lives of simplicity and goodness. A saint is one who lives as a child of God despite being a priest, pope, parent, boss etc. How could pope JP II forgive his aggressor if he didnt believe and trust in the Lords mercy? How could pope John XXIII lead a good (the good pope as they used to call him) and simple life and talk at the heart of people if he didnt discover the love of God for all of us? The two new saints are not becoming saints because they are popes, but because sainthood is already laid down by God who declared openly his mercy on the cross. Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 21:36:51 +0000
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