John Paul II said the logic of mercy
only makes sense from the inside. To understand mercy we have to experience it. For those who have never realized God’s
Divine Mercy in their life, it makes no sense. Some say our Christian
faith is nonsense.
God’s mercy extends even to them.
In the divine mercy prayer of St.
Faustina we pray, “Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and
divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the
whole world.”
God’s divine mercy was given to the
whole world by the sacrifice of Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity on the
cross.
Most of the world thinks it is
nonsense. Most of the world denies His mercy. They deny Jesus. They deny God.
Some say Christianity is a made up for simple people to believe. Despite all this, God’s Divine Mercy is for all.
Take for example Thomas.
Thomas was a disciple of Jesus. But,
like all the disciples when Jesus was arrested, he ran and hid. He was not
there when the brought Jesus before Pilate. He was not there when they mocked,
tortured, and crucified the Lord.
He was in hiding when Mary ran to tell
disciples the tomb was empty. Thomas didn’t run to the tomb.
He didn’t think it was safe behind
the doors closed and locked with the other disciples. Thomas was
not there when the risen Christ came to the disciples and said “Peace be with
you” and breathe upon them saying “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Thomas was not there.
He was not there when Christ by his
mercy, acknowledged forgiveness to those disciples who ran or denied or hid. Thomas
was not there when the risen Christ gave the apostles through the power of the
Holy Spirit the authority to proclaim his mercy. “What sins you forgive are
forgiven.”
Thomas was not there and doubted it happened. To him it was nonsense. I cannot believe unless I put my fingers in
the nail holes of his hands and my hand in his side.
The logic did not make sense, so
Thomas doubted.
Friends, do not doubt Christ’s mercy.
Christ appeared again in the room
when Thomas was present and said, "Thomas put your finger in my hands and your
hand in my side, believe."
The logic of mercy only makes sense
from the inside and it is understood by
those who know mercy. Now Thomas was on the inside. Thomas
realized the mercy of forgiveness. He realized that he was forgiven for running
and hiding and denying and doubting the risen Christ.
Thomas realized mercy in these words, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus said to him, "You
believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and have
believed."
Do not doubt Christ’s mercy.
Peter even though he denied Christ three
times, by God’s mercy he was forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit. He brought God's Divine
Mercy to the whole world. In the name of Jesus Christ many signs and wonders were
being accomplished by his mercy.
“For the sake of his sorrowful passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
The Holy Spirit brings the mercy of God to each and every one of us and is a powerful thing.
The secret of Christ’s Divine Mercy
is his death on the cross, the sacrifice of his body and blood was an act
of mercy for you and me; but, many forget that it was an act of mercy for the
entire world.
It was act of Mercy for those who
believe and those who don’t believe; mercy for those who say there is no God or
there was no such person as Jesus of Nazareth. It was even an act of mercy for
those who have never heard of Christ.
You see St. John Paul II knew. Saint
Faustina knew. Those of us who truly believe and live in the mercy of Jesus
Christ, filled with the Holy know his mercy is for the whole world.
Now, He sends us to bring that
mercy to the world.
Be good be holy and bring God’s
divine mercy to the whole world by the way you live your life and love one
another. Amen.
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