Divine Mercy: God’s Refusal To Leave Us In Our Fallen Condition

by Fr. Clement Attah  |  04/07/2024  |  Weekly Reflection

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. It’s a day to revisit our idea about who God is. I believe there are some people who still imagine that God’s standard for holiness is very unreasonable. People who think God is more interested in finding faults in us than in seeing our efforts to love and please Him. People who think God enjoys it when people end up in hell. The truth is all these perceptions about God is very false. Until we rid ourselves of these ideas, we will never come to a place of true love and friendship with God.

One of the very important missions of Christ was to reveal the merciful face of the Father. Most of His parables like the parable of the prodigal son was meant to drive this point home. God is a merciful Father who desires that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:4). Christ continued this message by revealing to Sr. Maria Faustina the message of Divine Mercy.

The message of Divine Mercy is simple but very critical. It is God’s refusal to leave us in our fallen condition. It is God’s active commitment to save us at all costs. God does not abandon any soul even when we choose to consistently reject Him. God fights for each soul like it’s the only soul He ever created. Each soul is very precious to God, and losing a soul is like a total defeat to His whole plan of Creation and Redemption.

The Feast of Divine Mercy that we celebrate today is God’s way of opening our eyes to the truth that He is a Father who is rich in mercy. God’s mercy is inexhaustible. Unfortunately, some people only experience it simply as forgiveness or pardon. There is more to God’s mercy than merely receiving forgiveness or pardon. There is a tenderness and sweetness to God’s mercy. His mercy comes with a sense of deep affection for Him. And God desires that we experience His mercy in that way. God’s mercy is so tender and so sweet that it softens one’s heart towards God. It draws you to God despite the violent nature of our temptations and frequent falls.

Today’s Feast offers us the special gift of the total forgiveness of all sins and punishment in the form of a plenary indulgence if we go to Confession and receive Communion. The Church allows about 20 days for Confession, before or after Divine Mercy Sunday, to gain the special plenary indulgence that is being offered today.

Have a blessed Feast of Divine Mercy!