CATHOLIC HOMILY FOR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY YEAR B (4)

CATHOLIC HOMILY FOR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY YEAR B

THEME: HE IS MERCY AND MERCIFUL AND HIS LOVE IS EVERLASTING!

BY: REV. FR. CHIBUZOR Cyril Duru

HOMILY: (Acts 4:35-35; 1 Jn 5:1-6 ; Jn 20:19-31)

CATHOLIC HOMILY FOR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY YEAR B

THEME: HE IS MERCY AND MERCIFUL AND HIS LOVE IS EVERLASTING!

BY: REV. FR. CHIBUZOR Cyril Duru

 

HOMILY: (Acts 4:35-35; 1 Jn 5:1-6 ; Jn 20:19-31)

God’s mercy is the “Divine Mercy.” The mercy which finds it’s fullest expression through love for mercy is love transformed and transfigured. God’s mercy is with us always! The story of our Redemption and Salvation which was made possible by the almighty power of God through the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the story about God’s compassion, mercy and love for us. The mercy of God which has come upon us; the mercy of God which is within us; the mercy of God which inspires us; the mercy of God which works through us; the mercy of God which reveals who God is through Christ, is equally, the mercy of God which transforms and bring the ‘Newness of life of the resurrection’ to us. We are all alive today thanks to God’s mercy!

After her visions of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory, Saint Faustina Kowalska wrote in her diary: “O my God, how I pity those people who do not believe in eternal life; how I pray for them that a ray of mercy would envelop them too, and that God would clasp them to His fatherly bosom.” As we enjoy God’s mercy, let us also show the same mercy to others in all that we do. The Scripture says:
“BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL; FOR THEY SHALL HAVE MERCY SHOWN THEM” (Matthew 5:7).

God is merciful! God is love!! But we should not take his mercy and love for granted. We should not abuse nor misuse them. We should also pray and ask the Spirit of God to not only fill us with these two powerful Christian Virtues, but also to inspire, enlighten and lead us through them “to the glory of God.”

Accept, embrace and believe in Jesus Christ the mercy and love of God and “YOU WILL NEVER REMAIN THE SAME!” Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection was not in vain. They brought us liberation and deliverance; Salvation and New Life in the Spirit. And through them he conquered sin, death and the Devil (Satan). Our immortal Redeemer, our true Messiah, our loving Saviour, the Prince of Peace, the Universal King, the Lord of lords and the Eternal Word of God, Jesus Christ, is the true face of God’s mercy. So long as we believe and profess Jesus; so long as we witness to him and confess his name; so long as we remain in his love and live out the new life in the Spirit; so long as we maintain our identity as Children of God and Christians; so long as we frown at sin and do not involve nor engage ourselves in any form of evil and devilish practices and so long as we commit our lives and will into God’s hand, then, “There is no cause for alarm.” Satan and his senseless and most miserable agents will absolutely and definitely have no power over us. As people baptized in Christ, our lives are hidden in Christ, his precious blood which cleansed and cleanses us is protecting us and the Holy Spirit, whose indelible mark and seal we have is always surrounding us with his burning flames ???? and powerful sword. Nothing can separate us from the love and mercy of God revealed to us in Christ Jesus. This is our faith! Put in another way St. John says: “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him.

In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments” (1 Jn 5:1-2). Faith in Jesus the mercy of God who died and was raised from the dead, love of God and love of our neighbour is our victory over the world and over Satan. Such was the teachings, testimonies and witness the apostles bore with great power and with their “charitable lifestyle” (Acts 4:32-35). So, we should not be afraid to trust in God’s mercy and to trust in Jesus.

And we should not let anyone confuse or lead us astray. The Scripture says: “But even if we ourselves or an angel from heaven preaches to you a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let God’s curse be on him” (Galatians 1:8). With faith and trust, therefore, “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in need” (Heb 4:16). God’s infinite mercy and unfathomable love will always accompany us. Trust and faith in God are all we need. Then, everything will be alright. For everything is possible with God who is almighty and all powerful. Our God is able and capable. Worry not! We should not worry or be anxious for “now you (we) have received mercy” (1 Pet 2:10); he has given us his peace which the world cannot give and we have ‘received the Holy Spirit’ (Jn 20:23).

Remember, “LIFE AND DEATH ARE IN GOD’S HAND” (Deut 32:39; 1 Sam 2:6; Gen 9:1ff; Ex 20:1ff ; Psalm 139:1ff & Job 1:21), and “WHATEVER GOD DOES NOT PERMIT WILL NEVER HAPPEN” (Isaiah 7:7; Deut 31:8; Psalm 23:1-7; Psalm 125:2; Phil 4:6-7; Jn 14:27; Ecclesiastes 3:11 & Hebrews 11:1). LORD JESUS: WE TRUST IN YOU! We should believe and not be afraid!! In our moments of trials, temptations, failings, pains, heartbroken, sickness and sorrow, let us cling to his mercy for healing. In our moments of great need, lack, hunger, penury, distress and frustrations, let us remember his love and compassion. In times of disaster and great ‘plague’ like the pandemic with its attendant spirit of trepidation, we should rest our hope in the risen Lord without doubt, saying like Thomas: “MY LORD AND MY GOD!”Relying on the maternal intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, the Mother of mercy, let us entrust ourselves to God and hand everything to him in PRAYER and effortfully do our own little part very well. Our perfect and faithful Father “who desires mercy and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13) will always bring his own part to a perfect, fulfilled and joyous end. In all things, let us be thankful and joyful!

Peace be with You!!
BY: REV. FR. CHIBUZOR Cyril Duru

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