Read Online
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book. But these are written that you
may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that through this belief you may have life in his name. John
20:30–31
Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that
through that belief you will inherit eternal life? Belief begins
with an intellectual assent but must continuously deepen. The
belief Saint John speaks of in today’s Gospel is one that draws us
deeper into the mystery of Christ’s Paschal Mystery—His Life,
Death, and Resurrection—so as to receive the gift of His abundant
and transforming Mercy.
Today is the eighth day of Easter. The Church, in Her wisdom,
celebrates the most important days of the liturgical year for eight
days. Historically, there were a number of feasts celebrated with
octaves: Easter, Epiphany, Corpus Christi, Ascension, All Saints,
and in some locales, the Sacred Heart and various Marian feasts.
After Vatican II, the Church focused on two—Christmas and Easter—so
as to give greater emphasis to the core of the Paschal
Mystery.
In the year 2000, the Octave of Easter took on a new focus when
Saint Pope John Paul II instituted the Solemnity of Divine Mercy on
the eighth day of Easter. This was done in response to Jesus’
personal request, communicated to the Church through a humble
cloistered Polish nun. Canonized in 2000, she is known as Saint
Maria Faustina Kowalska.
Between 1931 and 1938, Sister Faustina received numerous mystical
visions that she recorded in six notebooks, now referred to
collectively as Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of Saint Maria
Faustina Kowalska. Almost two years before her death, Sister
Faustina recorded the following entry in her diary:
On one occasion, I heard these words: “My daughter, tell the whole
world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of
Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for
poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are
open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who
approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession
and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of
sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through
which grace flows are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me,
even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no
mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it
throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from
the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation
to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The
Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My
desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after
Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of
My Mercy” (Diary #699).
When we reflect on this beautiful private revelation in the light
of today’s Gospel, we are invited to consider that even though the
Gospels present us with all we need to know in order to come to
faith in Christ and share in the new life He bestows, the treasure
of His Divine Mercy is inexhaustible. Just as “Jesus did many other
signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this
book,” so also the depths of His ongoing work, His Divine Mercy,
will only be seen in Heaven.
Divine Mercy Sunday is a day on which we are to profess our belief
in this Mercy. To do so, we must ponder these inexhaustible
treasures, probe their depths with the aid of Saint Faustina’s
private revelations, and then allow our Lord to reveal them to us
within the depths of our souls.
Reflect today on the infinite and inexhaustible treasures found in
the Person of Christ and His Divine Mercy. His Mercy draws us into
countless unrecorded and glorious graces that we are called to
receive and rejoice in. Believe in His Mercy. Be open to it. Call
upon it today, and receive it more abundantly.
Most Merciful Jesus, Your mercy is so great that no mind, be it
of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all
eternity. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, I pray that You will pour
out Your Mercy upon me and on the whole world. Fill us with the
grace You won through Your Paschal Mystery so that all people will
come to believe in You as their Lord and God. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Image: Divine Mercy Jesus Christ Stained Glass Style Christian
Vector Illustration with Red and White Rays by Eugeniusz
Kazimirowski.
Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com —
Copyright 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This
content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use.
Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use
within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without
written permission.
Kommentare (0)
Melde dich an, um einen Kommentar zu schreiben.