A God Full Of Mercy

12 Apr

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”  (Jn 20:21-23)

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter.  It is also the Feast of Divine Mercy.  On this day, we recall the merciful love of our God, a love that knew no bounds.  He gave us His only Son.  His only Son gave His life for us.  Jesus’ resurrection gives us the hope of rising to eternal life at the end of our days here on earth.

Jesus gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to His followers.  One of the great gifts of that Spirit is the ability to forgive sins.

We all sin.

Sadly, many do not avail themselves of the opportunity to go to confession in order to sacramentalize Jesus’ forgiving love.

Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins to the Apostles and to all those who would follow in their stead.

I celebrate that gift often, not only when I hear the confessions of my parishioners but, also, when I go to confession myself.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a wonderful opportunity for two sinners to experience and celebrate the forgiveness that comes to us from God.

God’s mercy knows no bounds.

He is willing to forgive everyone everything, if they but come to Him.

Celebrate that today!

FAITH ACTION:  Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy today (if possible, at 3:00 p.m.)

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.