Today’s feast is sometimes called the Sunday of Divine Mercy because of the reference to the institution of the Sacrament of Penance in the Gospel reading. The second reading and Gospel are joined by the phrase: “although you have not seen him you love him, even though you do not see him now yet believe in him.” These are the key point of today’s scripture: We need to believe and “see” Jesus in our hearts because he has freed us from our sins which in turn compels us to live as brothers and sisters.
The biggest challenge for most people is to fully believe that they have been forgiven. Very often I hear people confessing sins from their past, even though those sins have already been absolved through previous confessions. Once the sin is forgiven, it is forgiven; there is no need to confess it again (unless you did the sin between the current confession and the previous confession). In the words of a famous song, “let it go…the past is in the past.”
When we hold on to past sins (whether through guilt or fear or remorse or self-loathing), we do ourselves a disservice. We are allowing the sin to still have control over our lives. Moreover, implicitly we are denying the efficacy of the sacrament. In effect we are saying, “God could not/would not forgive me, so I need to hold onto this sin.”
Either Jesus came to forgive and restore or all that we are doing is a lie. The fact is, Divine Mercy is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is divine mercy.
This week, ask the Master of Divine Mercy to help you to “let go” of past sins and hurts. Allow the Lord to give you the courage to rise up out of your self-imposed graves to newness of life. Let Jesus free you in order that you may have life in his name.
Thank you to the Knights of Columbus and the ladies as well as all of our volunteers who helped to make our Friday Fish Fry dinners so successful.
Thank you to all who worked behind the scenes as well as in public during our Holy Week liturgies as well as doing all of the preparation work to make our celebrations so meaningful and prayerful.
Thank you to our staff who have been working so diligently during the Lenten season.
Thank you as well to all who visited our parish during Lent and Holy Week. May God give you a most joyous Easter season.
There are many events coming up in the next few weeks: Please pray for those who will be making their first Holy Communion, those making their Confirmation, and those who are preparing for marriage. We have a concert here on Saturday, April 29 at 8 PM featuring the Orchard Lake Philharmonic.
Please see the bulletin and website for more details.
Have a great week,
Msgr. John