Divine Mercy

The Second Sunday of Easter focuses on God's infinite mercy which is the outpouring of God's love to fill in the clefts in our human nature, wounded by sin. The birth of Jesus for the purpose of restoring the broken relationship between Creator and creature, Father and children, finds its conclusion in the Resurrection when Jesus confirms once and for all that "good is ultimately victorious , that life conquers death, and that love triumphs over hate." (Blessed Pope John Paul II). Our fragile and forgetful human nature needs this reminder for we can either become so bloated on our own importance or apparent power to do anything we want by our brain-power alone, or we can become discouraged by what we mistake as the victory of evil over good.
On this hundreth anniversary of the sinking of the "unsinkable" luxury liner, the RMS Titanic at 2:20 am, April 15, 1912, just two hours after a huge iceberg slit open 300 feet of its hull, we might look upon it as a metaphor of our fragility and need for God's protection, care and mercy. It was such a grand ship boasting of the finest wines, foods, first class staterooms, even a turkish bath, as well as the latest device in communication, the wireless Marconi radio which allowed its SOS message to be heard even in the United States as it was tapped out from the radio room. It was considered invulnerable, nevertheless it was not God, and its sudden and quick descent to the bottom of the Atlantic is a stern warning to us that but for God's mercy, we too could be on the ocean floor. Then truly do we need to reflect on God's mercy and pray for it not only today, but everyday.
Last night several family members and friends said goodbye to a Marine who leaves for a second tour in Afghanistan next week, again bringing the need for mercy very close to home. Turning him over to God's mercy and care gave us both confidence and humility; we trust that God will hear and answer our prayers.
Bro. Rene