Jetlagged from traveling five thousand miles and exhausted from standing on cobblestones from 6pm to 6am, we finally made it into Saint Peter’s Square. The Vatican estimated over 800,000 people had gathered in Rome for Mass that Divine Mercy Sunday seven years ago. We came from all over the world because our lives had been deeply touched by these two new Saints.
Young and old, priests and religious, families, students, and friends waited together all night in vigil, rejoicing and praying. Choirs from Poland serenaded us with beautiful hymns from their rich musical heritage. And we celebrated together with joy at Mass that morning as Pope Francis canonized Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II. Our Holy Father emphasized in his homily how “the glorious wounds of the risen Jesus” are the heart of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Jesus’ wounds remained after the Resurrection, a glorious sign of God’s love and desire for our healing. The heart of Jesus has been opened to us! Christ invites us to be like Saint Thomas in today’s Gospel and put our hand in His side.
When we draw near to Jesus’ wounds, we may notice some of our own woundedness. In prayer, share these painful wounds with Jesus and unite them to His glorious wounds. Let Christ transform the pain to glory. What will this look like?
Imagine a mother recovering from a caesarean delivery of her baby; the incision in her abdomen needs time to heal, and it leaves a permanent scar. But this wound is a life-giving wound. It is a glorious wound. It is evidence of new life. In a similar way, any of our wounds, emotional or physical, united to Christ’s suffering become evidence of His new resurrected life.
Today, on this Divine Mercy Sunday, draw near to the glorious wounds of our Risen Lord. Let God’s merciful love fill your heart with hope. He can make your wounds glorious!
Jesus, I trust in You!
Jesus, I trust in You! // Rose Coleman Click to tweet
Saint Faustina, pray for us! Pope Saint John Paul II, pray for us!
LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS
A NEW WORKSHOP
COME BACK TO FIRST LOVE
