Divine Mercy
Easter's second Sunday
Dear Saints,
First, a recap of important announcements:
This Sunday, we are looking forward to a special celebration of Divine Mercy. Join us for a drive-by blessing at the church starting at 10:00am, and recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00pm (details in the link above).
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Serratelli and nominated Father Kevin Sweeney to become the eighth bishop of our diocese. Please pray for both Bishop Serratelli and Bishop-Elect Sweeney in the days and weeks ahead.
Our Mission Hub has been reorganized for your reading pleasure. Check it out now and as we continue to make our way through these Church-in-exile days.
This weekend - the Second Sunday of Easter - is known as Divine Mercy Sunday.
An Image Overlay of the Shroud of Turin
and the Divine Mercy!
The Gospel passage we read to commemorate this feast is powerful. Jesus appears to his Apostles, identifying himself by the wounds of his crucifixion, and extends his peace to them. Jesus' closest friends - the men who abandoned and betrayed him - are restored to friendship with God.
(I riffed on the meaning of Jesus' wounds in Thursday's homily.)
In the 1930s, Jesus appeared to Saint Faustina Kowalska, making her a champion of God’s mercy to all, especially sinners. Devotion to Divine Mercy - especially in the venerated image on which is inscribed, “Jesus, I trust in You” - has since spread through the Church to every corner of creation.
The three main themes of the devotion - and the focus of the recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet - are 1. to ask for and obtain the mercy of God, 2. to trust in Christ's abundant mercy, and 3. to show mercy to others and act as a conduit of God's mercy towards them.
Here we see the power that comes from entrusting ourselves to Jesus: in him we receive the mercy of God, and in him we are made vessels of his mercy (his bountiful and forgiving love!) to everyone we encounter.
My friends, I miss you. Keep bringing God's mercy to life until we meet again!
In the Peace of the Risen Christ,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Sunday of Divine Mercy
Duccio di Buoninsegna: Appearance Behind Closed Doors, ca. 1308