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April 20, 2020 - No Mercy, No Fair!
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As some of you are aware there is a special grace given on Divine Mercy Sunday for those who go to Mass, make a confession and receive the Eucharist in Holy Communion. It is a great blessing and grace as it grants us the freedom from our sins and the punishments of our sins. Yet due to the coronavirus pandemic many were not able to fulfill these requirements so it seems that this grace will be lost by many, through no fault of their own.
Hey, that is not fair! Yes that is truly not fair - but as it goes life is not fair, right? Well that is a common truth for many things that happen to us in life that are beyond our control. Yet this is not true for Divine Mercy. God does NOT withhold His mercy ever! The only way we fail to receive God's mercy is truly through our own fault, so the grace of Divine Mercy this year is still possible!
As we like to remind ourselves and others, God is not a jerk! He does not withhold His goodness and mercy from us ever. Since we have not caused an obstacle to this grace, then neither will God. Just because you couldn't make it to confession yesterday, or receive Holy Communion because of the isolation restrictions and the danger of disease, it does not mean that you are deprived of the special graces of Jesus for Divine Mercy Sunday. These special graces are so extraordinary that they are likened to a second baptism. After baptism we are pure and holy and ready without wait to be with God face to face. These graces of Divine Mercy Sunday restores the soul that receives them to this orginal baptismal grace!
Christ's promises for Divine Mercy Sunday removes the usual requirement of plenary indulgences that the soul needs to be detached from all sin. The special graces promised by Christ come through receiving Communion, being in a state of grace, and trusting in Divine Mercy. I know you are still objecting - Father, we still cannot receive communion or go to confession (to be put in a state of grace). Well remember, Jesus loves you and you can still trust in His Divine Mercy. This year making a spiritual communion and making a perfect act of contrition for sins (and then getting to confession as soon as we reasonably can) are sufficient to meet the requirements for this great grace!
God is truly merciful and will not withhold His Mercy ever. You have a week before and a week after Divine Mercy to fulfill these requirements. I encourage all of us to accept this offer of Mercy. Father Michael Gaitley gives an excellent and more complete explanation of this grace during these unprecendented times. Click here for his reflection.
God bless you with the gift of his Divine Mercy!