It seems to me that Mercy and Compassion are the themes of Our Holy Father’s pontificate to date. And, he calls us as Church to show mercy and compassion to everyone we encounter. In Evangelii Gaudium Pope Francis says, “Being Church means being God’s people, in accordance with the great plan of his fatherly love. The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the good news of the Gospel” (114).
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, a day when we reflect on the mercy and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 30, 2000, when Saint Pope John Paul II canonized Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska and declared that the Second Sunday of Easter, “from now on throughout the Church, will be called 'Divine Mercy Sunday'.” Saint Pope John Paul II chose the Second Sunday of Easter for this celebration to fulfill one of Jesus’ private revelations to St. Faustina, “the Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy” (Diary, 699).
God’s intense desire for mercy is revealed through the birth, ministry, crucifixion, death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ. Through his teaching, healing and miracles Jesus demonstrated God’s kingdom of mercy, peace and love. Archbishop Mark Coleridge writes that, “Jesus gave God’s mercy flesh and bones and sealed a new covenant in his blood. He called the people of his time – and he calls us today – to live this new way of mercy.” And so, on this Divine Mercy Sunday 2024 remember the words of Jesus in St Matthew’s Gospel, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Matt 9:12-13). We are all sinners and we all are in desperate need of God’s mercy.
Prayer of Entrustment to the Divine Mercy
O Lord, our God.
We place our trust in You,
Because you are mercy itself.
We repent of our sins and turn to You for mercy.
We trust You to provide for our every need, according to Your will.
Help us to forgive others as You forgive us.
We promise to be merciful by our deeds, words and prayers.
Though we have fears because of human weakness,
we rely on Your infinite goodness and mercy.
We entrust to You the future of our planet, our Church,
our nations, our families and all our needs.
With loud cries we implore your mercy on us and on the whole world.
Look upon us, created in your image and likeness.
Form us in the Heart of Mary
by the power of the Holy Spirit into the living images of mercy.
May all come to know the depth of Your mercy
and sing the praises of Your mercy forever.
Amen!
