Divine Mercy Sunday

04-24-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Arul Doss

Dear people of God,

First of all, I express my special appreciation to all those who helped to decorate and make arrangements in our three churches for the meaningful celebration of Easter. I also thanks all those who donated for buying Easter flowers.

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Easter and with it we conclude the Octave of Easter. Again, the 2nd Sunday of Easter is also known as the ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.’

A little history about this Sunday is that our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Sr. Faustina in the 1930’s and promised that he would bestow his Divine Mercy to any sinner who totally repents his/her sins, no matter how grave and our Lord would not refuse any soul that seeks his mercy.

Therefore, on 30th April 2000, when Pope John Paul II canonized his country-woman, Sr. Faustina, he said, “It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called ‘Divine Mercy Sunday’.” This feast be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter. In brief, this Sunday invites us to contemplate the mercy of God. We experience this Divine Mercy very tangibly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and also in Grace - the unmerited favor, the gratuitous gift which God gives to us out of His compassion and merciful love.

So, today is also the feast of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

In today's Gospel, Jesus gives authority to his disciples to forgive sins saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” This is a Divine power given to his disciples and handed down to his Church and to our priests. But it is God who really gives pardon and peace. The priest - who takes the place of the ‘disciples’ of Jesus today - absolves in the name of the Church, that is, he frees the penitent from guilt and blame.

This understanding is still maintained in the formula of absolution that the priest utters during the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This is a wonderful possibility available in the Sacrament of Reconciliation: 'the visible sign of God’s invisible mercy.' On this feast then, let us resolve to make frequent confession – good, sincere & open confession - and experience God's Divine mercy.

Have a great and happy Sunday!

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