From the Desk of Fr. Peter: (Message 1 of 2)
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday to all parishioners!
Today the second Sunday of Easter, the church celebrates the Divine Mercy of God which was bestowed on all of us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Christ the God son, and the second person of the Trinity, God opened to the world the floodgates of His mercy. In our Baltimore Catechism one, (the third Council of Baltimore) question 60 asks: “Did God abandon man after he fell into sin? – God did not abandon man after he fell into sin, but promised him a Redeemer, who was to satisfy for man’s sin and reopen to him the gates of Heaven (page 17).” At the point of the incarnation of Christ, God’s Divine intervention sets in and was culminated with the passion, death and the resurrection of Christ.
God’s mercy forgives us unconditionally of our offenses. God did not offer us Divine Justice of which no one would be able to compensate for our wrongdoing. Psalm 130:3-4 articulated it well: “If you Lord, mark our sins, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness and so you are revered.”
In today’s gospel, Christ made the church and us through the apostles instruments of forgiveness. He say: “As the father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained (Jn. 20: 21-23).” Also teaching the apostles the Lord’s Prayer he said “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” So Christ’s Mission is to bring Mercy through forgiveness of our sins, thereby making us friends and children of God. Forgiveness offers better chance of love and friendship. Justice is Good but forgiveness is Best. May God’s grace help us to forgive unconditionally so that love may abide. (please see message 2)