Is This the Sunday When Easter Comes Down to Earth?

I love Divine Mercy Sunday. I love everything about it. In a sense, it is everything. Imagine for a moment if we were all beacons of Divine Mercy, showing mercy, piercing hearts with the Easter message with a smile or a word or an act. Our every word could open hearts to God’s merciful love.

Christ longs for souls. If only each one of us realized it, felt His longing.

Sr. Faustina sure did.

A friend of mine describes himself as a convert to Divine Mercy. My first reaction to her diary was also, I confess: Get this saint an editor! On the other hand, there is something powerful, practical, educational about the 700 pages I have sitting beside me from her: She models real encounter with Christ. This is how you talk to the Lord. This is how you listen. Listen! He speaks. Through the Word of Scripture. In the prayerful, sacramental life.

I described Divine Mercy Sunday as Easter without the logistical challenges. This is the Easter message. It’s like an Easter practicum. He is truly risen. I have faith this is true. Now what do I do about it with all given the daily challenges and misery that can be life here on earth? “Jesus I trust in you,” as we face them, strengthens us, brings us peace.

Among things Sr. Faustina heard:

My gaze from this image is like my gaze from the cross. (Diary, 326)

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. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him. (Diary, 299)

You are my delightful dwelling place; My Spirit rests in you. (Diary, 346)

I am offering to people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: “Jesus, I trust in You,” (Diary, 327)

Do not fear; I will not leave you to yourself. (Diary, 258)

My beloved child, delight of My Heart, your words are dearer and more pleasing to me than the angelic chorus. All the treasures of My Heart are open to you. Take from this Heart all that you need for yourself and for the whole world. For the sake of your love, I withhold the just chastisements, which mankind has deserved. A single act of pure love pleases Me more than a thousand imperfect prayers. One of your sighs of love atones for many offenses with which the godless overwhelm Me. The smallest act of virtue has unlimited value in My eyes because of your great love for Me. In a soul that lives on My love alone, I reign as in heaven. I watch over it day and night. In it I find My happiness; My ear is attentive to each request of its heart; often I anticipate its requests. O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye, rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight for all eternity. But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king’s child would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of souls who will glorify My mercy for all eternity. My child, that you may answer My call worthily, receive Me daily in Holy Communion. It will give you strength… (Diary, 1498)

We live in a world that has not encountered Christ as Sr. Faustina did, that does not know His mercy, that all too often cannot hear Him, because we are not listening.

We must pray. We must love with a love in communion with the Trinity. We must act according to the mandates of that love, as vessels of mercy, issuing invitations to that communion through our lives.

We must trust in the Name that saves, as Pope Frances put it this past week.

Have mercy on us and all the whole world.