Divine Mercy – ‘God’s Gift to Our Time’
There is nothing that man needs more than Divine Mercy, that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights of the holiness of God. John Paul II
What is mercy?
St John Paul II called mercy “love’s second name”. He explained that God’s mercy is tender, maternal and visceral. God’s mercy is love that encounters sin, suffering, brokenness and poverty in mankind. Divine mercy is when God reaches out to us in the midst of our sin and suffering. It is an act of love. He said it is “God’s gift to our time”.
The Story of Mercy
Do not forget that true love sets no conditions; it does not calculate or complain, but simply loves. John Paul II
Today we see the story of mercy (Jn 20:19-31) when Jesus breathes peace into his disciples who were fraught with fear and desolation. He showed them his wounds. He appeared again to dispel Thomas’ doubt and allowed him to put his fingers into his wounds. He does not chide nor reprimand for lack of belief. This is our God who is merciful and loves us infinitely.
The Message
And if this person responds with a sincere heart, "Jesus, I trust in you," he will find comfort in all his anxieties and fears. John Paul II
The Divine Mercy message is summarized in the following words” Jesus I trust in you” – meaning that you believe in His mercy and are willing to allow his mercy to flow through you to others. So the divine mercy reminds us to be His instrument of mercy- to be compassionate to others as He was; to an act in love as He did.
Living the Works of Mercy
In a session on “Living the works of Mercy “ with students from Forms 1, 2 and 3 during Catechism period, the students were asked to re-enact the story of mercy (Jn20:19-31), then reflect and discuss on the following:
Have you experienced mercy in your life? Has someone showed you compassion in your most difficult time?
Have you ever shown mercy to others?
How can you show mercy in your personal life and as a community?
Following the reflection, students were asked to think of ways they could commit each day to acts of mercy.
