March 30, 2008
Dear Parishioners,
Today we observe Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Novena began on Good Friday and each day we have prayed as Saint Faustina has directed us asking our Lord’s mercy on us and the whole world. The Lord is indeed kind and merciful, full of compassion for all of us. Let us pray that in these Easter days we may not only experience the Divine Mercy ourselves but that all hearts will be open to the Lord’s blessing of Mercy which He generously gives us through the Church and her Sacraments. Mercy Sunday focuses us on the forgiveness of our personal sins which comes from the Sacrifice of the Cross through the Sacraments particularly through Baptism and Confession.
The gift of God’s Mercy is seen in the Tribunal of Mercy – the Confessional. It is God’s way of personally making sure that we have heard the words of His forgiveness through the ministry of His Priest. On that Easter night when our Lord appeared in the Upper Room, even though the doors were locked, He gave the gift of absolving sins to the Apostles. He would give this to Thomas when Thomas met the Lord and touched the wounds of Mercy. At that time St. Thomas made his profession of Faith in those grand words: “My Lord and My God.” This was no mere man who stood before St. Thomas, it was the Lord. We say those words each time we hear the words of the Consecration and see the Priest elevate the Sacred Host at Mass. St. Thomas made that profession of faith which we make in the “symbol” of Faith, the Creed – whether the Nicene Creed or the Apostles Creed.
St. Augustine instructed the newly baptized converts in the 5th Century: “…And in learning it (the Creed) well, say it every day so as not to forget it: when getting up from bed, when you are going to sleep, pronounce your ‘Symbolism’; pronounce it to God, striving to learn it by heart,…Let it be for you as a reminder of your faith and a mirror in which you see yourself reflected. Look at yourself, then in it; check to see if you continue believing all the truths that you say in words that you believe, and rejoice daily in your faith. Let them be your riches; let them be as an apparel for the adornment of your soul.” (St. Augustine, Sermon 58, 15)
It is by knowing the faith with precision that we can act out the good deeds of faithful Christians; it is in acting out the deeds of faithful Christians that we can witness to the world that Jesus is the Merciful Lord Who has come to redeem us and to give us His divine life that we might live in Grace and in Communion with Him and each other. It is the personal one to one witness of lived Christianity which was in the early days of the Church and is always the way of bringing people to our Lord and bringing back those who have lapsed.
Today we hear the words of the Acts of the Apostles which describe the life of the early Church. The early Christians did four things we are told:
The teaching of the apostles (they studied the catechism) – with devotion.
The communal life (they were active in their ‘parish’) – with devotion.
The breaking of the bread (Holy Mass) – with devotion.
The prayers (regular converse with the Holy Trinity) – with devotion.This afternoon at the Hour of Mercy – 3:00 PM – we will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in the Church and afterward have a Parish Family Pot Luck Dinner in the Parish Hall. We need these times to spend together as a Parish Family. Be sure to be with us this afternoon. The sign up sheet is next to the Children’s Chapel in the Narthex.
We continue to rejoice in these Easter days as we thank God for our own Baptism and incorporation into the Church. Please continue to pray for those 6 (4 Adults and 2 children) who are in full communion with the Church through the Easter Vigil here at St. Michael Parish. Now is the time also to be inviting people to come to Mass with you and to be making plans to bring them to the RCIA program for next Fall.
Do you know someone who has been away from the Church? Invite them home in these Easter days. Get them to the Sacraments that they may experience the Lord’s great blessing of living in the heart of His Church.
God bless and may our Lady keep you in her care.With prayers,
Father Arnsparger