“Give thanks to the Lord, for his mercy endures forever”.

Year A6 Divine Mercy Sunday 4/19/2020

Dear friends in Jesus Christ,

Ps 117: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his mercy endures forever”.

Jesus told St. Faustian, “The feast of Mercy emerged from my very depths of tenderness. It is my desire that it be solemnly celebrated…Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the font of My Mercy” (St. Faustina’s Diary page132).

To understand the meaning of the above responsorial psalm, let us be led by the liturgy to the heart of the event of salvation which unites Christ’s death and resurrection with our lives. This miracle of mercy unfolds God’s love. The church receives the “Divine Mercy” from the Risen Lord as the Easter gift and offers to all the faithful.

Today’s gospel speaks of Jesus’ ministry. He passed his ministry of love and mercy to the Apostles and to their successors. Just as the Father sent Jesus, he sent the Apostles to the whole world with the message of God’s mercy and forgiveness. This means the Divine Mercy is poured out for all of us. Jesus appears to the Apostles in the upper room and confers on them the Spirit. The Spirit’s work in them will be the power to forgive sins, which is Jesus’ mission (St. John 20:19-31).

“Jesus, I trust in you”. This prayer clearly expresses the attitude with which we too would like to abandon ourselves, trustfully in yours hands, O Lord, our only Savior. A simple trust in Jesus would help us to overcome darkness, sorrow, doubt, and desperation. The rays of Divine Mercy restore hope to those who feel overwhelmed by the burden of sin.

The church offers a plenary indulgence to those who receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, receive the Holy Communion worthily, and pray for the intention of our Holy Father.

God bless and have blessed Sunday.

Fr. Lou