Divine Mercy

The idea of mercy is something for which we all long, however, I think that most of us have a hard time believing it is true. Any mature individual has recognized the need for mercy. If we have reflected on our lives, we realize that we have all sinned, that we have all chosen to error in some way.  It is only a person who is in denial who will say otherwise. When confronted with this reality in our conscience, we see with clarity that we need mercy.

Sadly, we live in a world that will often choose vengeance over mercy. As a consequence, we can sometimes have a difficult time even believing in mercy.  This expounds the fact that we need to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday all the more.
 
As I mentioned in the bulletin last week, there is a chaplet that we can pray to meditate on the mercy of God. The closing prayer of the chaplet is a revelation of the power of God’s mercy:
 
“Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look
kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit
ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.”
 
This prayer says that God’s mercy is inexhaustible. We humans all have our limits. Some people are more merciful than others, though we all have our limits. This is not the case with God. Like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, our God will only welcome us back if we submit ourselves to his mercy for the wrong we have done.
 
This may be difficult for us to believe. It may be even intimidating to think that there is this powerful mercy for us.  That is why the closing prayer of the chaplet
requests for “confidence” as we put ourselves before the mercy of God.
 
I invite you to join us all in prayer this Sunday at 3 PM, either in person at the church or wherever you find yourself.  Join the entire Church throughout the world in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet so that we might open ourselves to the mercy that we all need.
 
May God bless you on this day of great mercy and may God’s love direct your minds & hearts.

- Fr. Gjengdahl