The Divine Mercy is the unfathomable grace of God! This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the Risen Christ and offers to humanity. The devotion to Divine Mercy Sunday grew rapidly after its designation by Pope Saint John Paul II.
Our Easter song is alleluia! Christ is risen Alleluia! For death or tomb could not hold him captive and even in the grave, Jesus is Lord. Alleluia! This is the context and the mystery of the resurrection. Indeed, it is one of the most controversial topics of Christianity. Yet, it is on it that our Christian faith, life and testimony are anchored firmly.
The Palm Sunday known as the Passion Sunday liturgically is the commemoration or relive of the triumphant entry of Christ to Jerusalem. A historical and bold entry that eventually leads to his passion, death and resurrection. It is not only a fulfilment of the plan or will of God the Father as Jesus himself indicated it to us. It is a demonstration of the love of God to save us at all costs from slavery to sin and Satan.
The principal or central theme of this fifth Sunday of Lent is that there is empowerment through the grace and mercy of God in our sinfulness. God is never interested in the death or punishment of anyone of us due to sin. His grace and mercy always meet us in our state or moment of wretchedness.
One of the most beautiful stories of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the story of the Prodigal Son which demonstrated that the repentance of one sinner is the joy of God the Father. For this reason, many biblical scholars believe that the parable of the Prodigal son should be called the Prodigal Father, the forgiving or loving father or the joy of God. The story shows us who God the Father actually is, a God who wastes grace, mercy and love despite our waywardness to squander them.
Truly, Lenten season is not only a moment of prayer, penance and charity, but also a time of repentance, reconciliation and renewal of our relationship with God and our brothers and sisters. It is a time to take full advantage of the grace and mercy of God made available to us through Christ Jesus.
The transfiguration of Christ before his apostles Peter, James and John is the response of God to the scandal of the cross of Christ or suffering in Christendom. Often, at Lent, we hear too much about sufferings, sacrifices, or the cross, messages, and talks like these can be very discouraging to hear. The transfiguration shows us the glory that awaits us after sufferings or sacrifices of Lenten penitential practices,
Indeed, Lent is the longest spiritual retreat every Christian can or should embark on to prepare and enter joyfully into the Easter joy of the Resurrected Lord. Lenten season is a moment of grace and mercy. We are inviting three actions of forgiveness, conversion and reconciliation with God, others and ourselves, with the attitudes of praying, fasting and almsgiving.
There is no doubt that our words proceed from the goodness or badness of our hearts. The Christian life and faith is not an external display of superficial piety or religiosity. It is a steady, constant and deep spiritual growth and development that bear fruits of goodness. Especially, by the ways, we live and interact with others. Therefore, the uprightness of the heart is from the introspection of spiritual growth from within the Christian Soul.
Our Christian love is to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who abuse you. It is an unconditional love rooted in goodness without the shadow of emotions or feelings of hatred, resentment or vengeance. While our human feelings or love is only to like those who like us, love those who love and act with kindness towards those who do the same with us. It is a conditional love or feelings based on mutuality and interests.