The winter of 1931…in the land of Poland.

>> It was the Convent of the Sisters of our Lady of Mercy.

Sister Faustina was having another apparition of Jesus…

And this was to be a very special day…

She saw Jesus dressed in a white garment.

He held one Hand raised in blessing and the other hand touched his garment at the heart-level.

>> From that point in his garment, two bright rays of light emanated – one red and the other pale.

Jesus then spoke to her, “The two rays denote Blood and Water.

>> The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous.

>> The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls.

These two rays issued forth, from the very depths of My tender mercy, when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross”

He then said to her, “Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You.

>> I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapter and then throughout the world.

I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.

I also promise victory over enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory”

These private revelations to Saint Faustina led to the spreading of the devotion of the Divine Mercy of Jesus.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy of Jesus – commemorating His deep love for us in His Passion, Death and Resurrection and celebrating His immense compassion and longing for each and every soul.

The Gospel of the Day is another Resurrection account of the Risen Lord to His Apostles..

Thomas was not with the group on the previous occasion that the Lord appeared to His chosen ones.

>> And so when the Lord makes His appearance, He specially calls out on Thomas, to experience and believe in His Risen Body:

“Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving but believe” (Jn 20:27)

Jesus came to the world to “save and seek the lost” (Lk 19:10)

Thomas, the Apostle was lost…

… was lost in doubts over the reports and talks about the Resurrection of the Lord

… was lost within himself on whether he could trust the words of his companions, who often had wavered, even in the past, over many matters

… was lost in missing out a chance to encounter His Master, since he had stayed away from the community.

But the Good Shepherd now comes in search of this “lost” sheep..

And this sheep, submits to the mercy and compassion of the Shepherd…

“My Lord and my God” (Jn 20:28) were the confessing words of Thomas to Jesus, His Master.

>> The Lord displays His wonderful mercy to Thomas, the “lost” sheep, who was willing to be found.

>> The Lord manifests His compassionate mercy, to Thomas, His “chosen” one, who was ready to humble himself before the Lord.

This then is the great lesson that we can learn ….

The Lord is willing to be found, by those who seek Him

>> The Lord is waiting to be experienced, by those who want Him

>> The Lord is wanting to be encountered, by those who long for Him

The Mercy Sunday is a wonderful invitation to plunge ourselves in the ocean of the Lord’s mercy and compassion.

Thomas sought to touch the Lord… but the Lord Himself touched his heart!

>> We seek the Lord…

… but the Lord seeks much more to come into our lives.

>> We long for the Lord…

… but the Lord longs much more strongly for our souls.

>> We search for the Lord…

… but the Lord searches much more to embrace us in love.

This Feast of the Mercy Sunday also is a beautiful reminder and invitation to experience the Love and Mercy of the Lord, in the two Treasures that Holy Mother the Church constantly offers – the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Image of the Divine Mercy primarily points out to two Sacraments…

>> The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous – The Sacrament of Baptism

>> The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls – The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

In the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist… the mercy of Lord waits on us…

… to receive Him more frequently

… to live Him more in our lives

… to honour Him more often

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the mercy of the Lord longs for us…

… to accept His offer of life and blessings

… to receive us back, with all our sins washed away

… to go back to His embrace of sanctity by living a holy life

The priests of the Lord are reminded, on this day, of this powerful duty and task that they need to faithfully ensure… towards the celebration of the Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

>> These are the two powerful channels through which the mercy of the Lord flows and the priests alone are chosen and entrusted to handle these Sacraments of grace and mercy!

It’s indeed the greatest privilege…

… and the same time, the most sacred duty and function for a Priest.

Therefore…

>> Priests have a bounden task, to be always willing to administer these sacraments…

>> Priests have a bounden duty, to be always open to allow God’s mercy to flow through them

Let this Feast of the Mercy Sunday be a day to re-consecrate ourselves to the Mercy of the Lord.

… Let this Feast of the Mercy Sunday be a day to re-commit ourselves to showing mercy and compassion to all the people in our lives.

With love in our hearts, let us cry out, “My Lord and my God” and with hope in the mercies of God, let us sing, “Jesus, I trust in You!”

>> Let us seek to live as Missionaries of Mercy!

May our Blessed Mamma, the Compassionate Mother of Mercy, always intercede for us!

Happy Feast of the Mercy of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “My past no longer concerns me. It belongs to Divine Mercy.

>> My future does not yet concern me. It belongs to Divine Providence.

What concerns me and what challenges me is today, which belongs to God’s grace…

… and to the devotion of my heart and my good will.”

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