In 2000, Pope John Paul II declared that the Second Sunday of Easter would be celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday. Since then, God’s faithful people have rallied around a devotion to this feast, to the image of the Risen Christ who appeared in avision to Saint Faustina, and to the chaplet that begs God’s mercy for us and for the whole world. Here in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport, we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet six mornings each week before Mass.

But why? Why does this devotion call to so many people? What can we learn from it? And perhaps most importantly, how can we share its special grace with the world around us? Pope Francis can help us better understand our longing for God’s mercy and our obligation to share it with our brothers and sisters in need. During last year’s celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, the Holy Father said: “Let us never forget that mercy is the keystone to the life of faith and the concrete way through which we make visible the Resurrection of Jesus.” In this way, mercy is not simply for forgiveness or the remission of punishment. Mercy is instead basic goodness, kindness, and generosity. It the core ingredient of the love that we express to our families and friends; the consideration that we show to our colleagues and neighbors; and the charity that we give to the helpless, the lonely, and the poor.

Pope Francis also said: “Mercy makes us understand that violence, resentment, andrevenge have no meaning; and that the first victim is whoever lives these sentimentsbecause it deprives them of their own dignity.” We can see the hard truth in this admonition when we watch cable news or scroll through a social media feed. When we engage in bigotry, bitterness, calumny, and scandalmongering, we exchange mercy for meanness. We become agents of both destruction and self-destruction. We fail as disciples to live the Gospel in all that we think, say, and do. We fail to share God’s mercy in our homes, workplaces, and communities. And we fail to build up the world around us at a time when so many seem so intent on tearing it down.

For some among us, our devotion to Divine Mercy may involve the daily devotion in church. But for all of us, our truest devotion must not be to the ritual of a chaplet or to a sacred image. It should be a resolution to practice what we preach. It should be a resolution to see the Risen Christ in all people, in all situations, and in all things created by God’s love. It should be a resolution to respect all people regardless oftheir race, religion, or life experience. It should be a resolution to reach out to the poor, the sick, the lonely, and the unwanted. It should be a resolution to rise above the dark shadows of anger, bitterness, and division that creep into our lives and into our communities. It should be a resolution to love God and love others.

Earlier this week, our country marked the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968). This fateful and sad anniversary can help us to consider and reconsider how we think about each other and how we treat eachother during a time of division and extremism. Dr. King once wrote: “The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will webe extremists for hate or for love?” What better time to become “extremists for love” than Divine Mercy Sunday? What better time to renew our devotion to sharingGod’s mercy with our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers? What bettertime to pray: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world!” May the Risen Lord give you peace during this Easter Sea-son and always!

Learn More: Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet
CCGR Weekly Newsletter (4-8-18)
Bringing Home the Word (4-8-18)

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Divine Mercy Sunday
A Celebration of God’s Love
Sunday, April 8th