Divine Mercy Sunday Reflection

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Divine Mercy Sunday
A Reflection by Rev. Bob Johnnene OFD
Mission Sts. Sergius & Bacchus/ Franciscans of Divine Mercy
Reformed Catholic Church International of New England
www.missionstsergius.org
“And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asks
receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be
opened”. Luke 11:9-10 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: For every one that
asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it
shall be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8
The above statement is found in two of the four gospels and I have
chosen to use it to emphasize my reflection for this Divine Mercy
Sunday which is also the anniversary of the founding of the
Franciscans of Divine mercy. The readings for this Sunday have one
very important point to make and that is the infinite mercy and love
of God for everyone on this planet earth. Therefore it is very
appropriate that this Sunday be dedicated to Divine Mercy. In the
reading from 1 John 5:1-6 we hear these words : “Whoever believes that
Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that
begat loves him also that is begotten of him.  By this we know that we
love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.  For whatever is born of God overcomes
the world:”
In Deuteronomy 6:5 we read “And you shall love the LORD your God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
Which Christ quoted when asked what the greatest commandment was in
Matthew 22: 34-40 to which he added “the second is like unto it, love
your neighbor as you love yourself. On these two commandments hang all
the law and the prophets”. In John 13:34 Christ told us “A new
commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved
you, that you also love one another.” LOVE is the main element and
LOVE is what God is. Where there is LOVE there is God and where God is
there is infinite mercy and love.
So how do we show that love? We might do as those early followers did
in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles 4:32-37 are said to have
done; “for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them,
and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them
down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made to every man
according as he had need.  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed
Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a
Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and
brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet”. Which is one of
the principals St. Francis wanted in his rules, which Innocent III
approved 800 years ago last Tuesday the 14th, for the order he founded
later to be known as “THE FRANCISCANS”, that they own nothing of their
own and use what they receive for the benefit of spreading The Good
News of Salvation and to help the poor, sick, aged and societies
outcasts.
The gospel relates how Jesus appeared to the apostles and disciples
who had locked themselves in a room for fear that they would be
persecuted and gave them the powers which have been handed down to all
priests ever since at their ordination when they are anointed “Jesus
and stood in the middle, and said to them, Peace be to you. And when
he had so said, he showed to them his hands and his side. Then were
the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.  Then said Jesus to them
again, Peace be to you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.
 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,
Receive you the Holy Spirit:  Whosesoever sins you remit, they are
remitted to them; and whosesoever sins you retain, they are retained ……
these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his
name.” John 20:19-31
I often feel that the problems we have in this world are primarily due
to the fact that so many do not love themselves and therefore they are
incapable of loving anyone else let alone loving someone they do not
know or try to get to know and understand. The troubles, strife,
greed, genocide, poverty, war, discrimination that have and still
cause so much grief in this world are the result of people not loving
themselves and/or loving the God who created them. People look for
the faults in, not only others, but themselves and dwell on them
rather than on what is good. People tend to hold on to the negative
things of their life rather than look at the good around them. I have
seen this attitude cause people to actually be physically sick.
As followers of Christ we are called to seek out the light of God’s
truth, to ask God to help us to know His will, to knock on the door of
heaven and we have been told that if we doo this we will be heard, the
door will be opened and what we seek we will find. That is what the
infinite and unlimited Divine Mercy and Love of God is all about.
I begin each day with this prayer in the hopes that God will be light
my way and let me know his will.
Prayer for God’s Infinite Love
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFD, March 24th 2006
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Divine_Mercy_Franciscans


Almighty and merciful God, open my mind, my heart, and my soul to your
infinite love. Instill within me the knowledge of your truth. Guide
me in your ways in all the things I do so that I may be to others a
reflection of your love towards them. Allow the light of your truth
to flow through me towards all I encounter this day in order that they
may come to know you better. I pray that all those with whom I come
in contact each and every day may be brought into a closer union with
you and enjoy your promise of salvation earned through your beloved
son, Jesus Christ, in His passion, death, resurrection and
ascension.
I humbly ask this in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, who
lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and
forever unto the ages of ages. AMEN