Divine Mercy Sunday

A bench in Cherokee park

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….

Pictures of fast food are invariably more appetizing than the food. Items shown “actual size” are not actually that size. Somewhere between the department store and the bedroom, clothes lose their appeal and sometimes shrink! Occasionally we get what we want but it’s not satisfying. And sometimes we send Santa Claus our lists but receive something else -- of far greater value – and we’re disappointed.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday we hear Saint Peter’s song of praise celebrating God’s “great mercy.” Saint Peter then describes the wonderful gift – “a new birth” – that has inspired his song. But he is not exactly speaking of all the mercies we might prefer: success, power, ease, comfort and security. He doesn’t even mention good health.

Rather, he lists several blessings, beginning with “to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

We often overlook the value of hope and its power to satisfy. My family was rather poor when I was a child. Sometimes we hoped for things we’d like to have: a horse, a swimming pool, new toys, and new clothes instead of hand-me-downs. More often than not, we had a new baby! I, for one, was disappointed. How happy I am today to call Jimmy, Peggy, Janet, Becky, Cathy, Rick, Mary Lou, Bob, and David my brothers and sisters. How very proud I am of my family. Thank God he never gave us a swimming pool or horses.

Many people have attained all they want, but they lost their hope in the process. They got their big homes and big cars and fashionable neighborhoods but their marriages disintegrated along the road. Where will they go now?

If it’s true that America is in decline, the surest sign is the loss of hope among our children. Not every aspiring child can afford the good education his grandparents received for free! There are neither student loans nor grants for them.

Hope, mixed with disappointment and hardship, makes for a happier life.

Saint Peter goes on: to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith….

“Safeguarded by faith” is another way of saying “saved by faith.” Our faith protects us from so much trouble all around us. This is hard to explain to neighbors and fellow workers. While we labor under the same trials as they, we are content and they are not. We may enjoy alcohol, but not every day. Christians may relax with entertaining television, but not when we can spend quality time with our children and loved ones. We might sacrifice family time to pay off some bills but we don’t make a habit of it. We readily cut the evening short so as to be ready for work, prayer and presence the next day. Christians prefer the “delayed gratification” of heaven to the cheap thrills of this world.

Saint Peter finishes his long sentence with one more clause: to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday we remember the “great mercy” God has given to us with the promise of a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. Beyond the many blessings we receive of health, prosperity and security, we are grateful for the gift of hope. Without it our lives are meaningless.