Happy Divine Mercy,
So why Divine Mercy? A poor, very young Polish nun from a former Soviet satellite province, began having visitations from Jesus Christ, Himself. Beginning at age 18 and lasting through more than the final third of her 33 year life she experienced these highly ‘personal’ visits that would, in turn, become a bugle blast cry for devotion to, and exercise of, Mercy, to all.
Her first confessor, Father Sopoćko, appreciated Faustina’s deep spirituality and faithfulness the Our Lord. He would obey Jesus’ desires through Faustina, by saying Mass, in front of the painting that was ordered to be painted by Jesus, to Sr. Kowalska.
This painting depicting Jesus with one hand (right) raised in blessing also shows His left hand very gently, almost unseen, pulling back on His tunic to expose His Sacred Heart. Bursting out from His chest are two rays of light. One white ray signifying water (Baptism) and the other ray being red for blood (Life). Also, not readily noticeable, are the position of our Savior’s feet. He appears to be walking toward the person looking at the painting. Jesus is always seeking us, wherever we are!
Also, from Poland, a young priest and eventual Archbishop, Karol Wojtyla took a very keen interest in Jesus’ visits to the Slavic people. After the tragically short tenure of Pope John Paul the First, our young Polish Archbishop became the now Saint, Pope John Paul the Second in 1978. His youth served him well as he lived to consecrate the New Millenium. One of his first orders of business was to canonize Sr. Faustina Kowalska as the first Saint of this infant millennium.
Our Psalm 118:2-26, today, starts off our quest for Divine Mercy,“Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”
Our Second scripture today from 1Peter 1:3-9, we hear about enduring our hardships and how they test our faith like gold tested in Fire, “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now, yet believe in him!
Moving immediately into our, Gospel John 20:19-31 and the story of ‘doubting Thomas’. “But he (Thomas) said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” **In a week from this moment, Thomas will be embarrassed into believing, Not Fun! Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 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.”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed, are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
So much of our faith and life require us to believe, even though we can’t see. Paul’s faith through fire, John’s apostles seeing Jesus, while absent one brother. Finally, all that had happened, or didn’t, belief or not, to a young Polish girl who saw Jesus, with her own eyes and heard His message for the whole world, when no one else did. **God’s Tremendous, Divine Mercy was indeed poured out in the blood and water of our Lord Jesus, the Christ. It’s one thing to say this, and it’s quite another to ‘contemplate’ this! This Divine Mercy painting & icon, when gazed upon, are vivid reminders of the full-extent of God’s Love for us. Let us give thanks and be glad. Blessed Trinity, have Mercy on us. ***JOY- JOY- JOY, Find Bro BLU on YouTube, videos, every Saturday… thanx -a-million, Mark “G
