2nd Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday 2015

What a glorious day!  The signs of spring are out, the earth is waking up, and life is beautiful.  Yet, there is something even more perfect than these lovely gifts of nature.  God's mercy.  Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, which highlights this amazing gift.  What a fitting complement to Easter and this octave of Easter.




What is mercy?  Dictionary.com gives the following definitions:



noun, plural mercies for 4, 5.

1.

compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.

2.

the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing: an adversary wholly without mercy.

3.

the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.

4.

an act of kindness, compassion, or favor: She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.

5.

something that gives evidence of divine favor;blessing: It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.

During the last 9 days, we were called to pray the Divine Mercy Novena.  Each day had a special intention.  With each intention, we lift up another group of souls for the purpose of finding mercy for them and us.  Mercy should be a big part of our faith lives.  It is exciting that Pope Francis declared a Jubilee Year of Mercy beginning this December, 2015 through November 2016.  Bishop Dendinger shared this at Mass, along with some of the history of Divine Mercy Sunday.  St. Faustina was the catalyst for the Divine Mercy movement.  As far as the liturgy of the Church, Divine Mercy Sunday is relatively new, maybe only about 20 years old.  So get in the know and learn about Divine Mercy.  No time like the present!

Prayer - Lord, thank you for your immeasurable mercy towards us.  Whether we are willing to admit it or not, we rely on your mercy.  Grant us the grace to embrace it in our lives as a way to grow closer to You.  May our lives mirror Your mercy to us.              

Beautiful daffodils were blooming before Easter.

There is a lone leaf popping out on the tree - time to grow!