Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Sunday has quite a stragetic location.  The novena for Divine Mercy Sunday starts on Good Friday, the day that Jesus proved just how much he loves us.

We celebrate Easter Sunday.  Proof that there is no neverland.  Death has lost its victory.  Divine Mercy Sunday is just one week later.

This year, Divine Mercy Sunday had an interesting turn of events.  My morning started at work, actually.  I was honored to see 13 kids all dressed up, excited and so happy to receive their first Holy Communion.  The perfect start to any day.

Pope John Paul II is now Blessed John Paul II, the second major event of the day.  JPII taught us so much about life, human dignity, feminine genius, etc., that a lifetime of learning may never absorb it all.  A fan of St. Faustina, JPII was a cheerleader for Divine Mercy.  And what a gift God's mercy is.  And it's just way too cool that he was beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday.

As we were getting ready for bed, it was announced on TV that there would be a presidential press conference - with an unknown subject.  One could only speculate on that news, and those guesses were pretty accurate.  A man had lost his life.  A man with evil on his mind.  A man responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.

So what should we think?  Revenge is sweet?  Should we rejoice?  Should we be glad?  Should we be thankful that God loves us more than He loved the bad guy?  Wait a minute.  God does love the bad guy.  As much as he loves us.

This morning, we learned of another event that occurred on Divine Mercy Sunday.  A local child of 17 took his own life.  His facebook profile indicates that he'd been struggling.  His family now struggles with his loss.

As a parent of an 17 year old, I can only imagine the pain that family is going through.  How hard it must be to find the strength to take one more step.

Across the world, terrorists could be planning revenge.  Will they let hatred take over their thoughts?

May the mercy found first two events of our Sunday, heal and protect us as we muddle through the last two events of our Sunday.  Lord, have mercy.