April 12th, 2015 - Second Sunday of Easter - Sunday of Divine Mercy

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures forever." - Ps. 118:1

There are days when I feel like a little, sick child, longing for someone to hold me. I'm exhausted and just want to quit. There are days when I feel alone, afraid, and helpless. Sometimes I just want to be loved.

On these days, I often wonder where God is and why I'm suffering. Then I think of things from His point of view and can only imagine Him looking down upon me with deep compassion, like a father tending to an injured child.

Unfortunately, I'm usually too afraid to let Him see my wounds, fearful that His medicine will sting. So what does He do? He shows me that He has wounds too.

On that Easter evening long ago, the apostles were feeling hurt and scared as they locked themselves in the upper room. They had just witnessed the crucifixion of their friend and master, and they feared facing the same fate as Him. Then, to their great astonishment, He appeared in their midst, alive. He held out his hands, revealed his wounds, and wished them peace.

He offers you and I that same peace this day. He shows us His wounded hands, feet, and side as proof of his love and mercy. This is what we celebrate on the Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday - a love so strong that it conquers death, a mercy so deep it could swallow an ocean of evil.

In the words of Saint John Paul II, "No human sin can prevail over this power or even limit it. On the part of man only a lack of good will can limit it, a lack of readiness to be converted and to repent, in other words persistence in obstinacy, opposing grace and truth, especially in the face of the witness of the cross and resurrection of Christ." (Rich in Mercy, 13) To put it plainly, God's mercy is truly divine, and He will heal our deepest wounds if we simply give Him the permission to do so.

Once we allow this, once we experience and receive God's mercy - once we truly "get it" - then we can't help but be merciful towards others in return, because we recognize the profound grace we ourselves have been given. Besides, Jesus commands us to "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

How then do we show mercy? Saint Faustina Kowalska, the great Polish mystic who died in 1938, wrote extensively in her famous diary about God's endless mercy. According to her, "There are three ways of performing an act of mercy: the merciful word, by forgiving and by comforting; secondly, if you can offer no word, then pray - that too is mercy; and thirdly, deeds of mercy [caring for the poor]. For on the Last Day we shall be judged from this, and on this basis we shall receive the eternal verdict." (Diary, 1158)

So, what will it be? Will you help heal the wounds of those in need? Will you surrender to the Risen Lord and let Him heal yours? Will you put your trust in Jesus, whose own wounds bear witness to His love and mercy for you?

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Jesus, I trust in You, for You have risen from the dead. Amen. Alleluia!