On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we are reminded of the remarkable resilience of humanity. Through our social media feeds and television screens, we witness the stark realities of hunger, oppression, and the brutalities of war that afflict our world. Poverty has become an unwelcome visitor at countless additional doorsteps across the globe.
In the midst of these social challenges, we observe the troubling extremes taking root in our society and the polarizing nature of politics, often at the expense of the common good. The sheer struggle of maintaining our humanity can feel overwhelmingly burdensome at times. As a young person recently shared with me, the feeling of being caught between generations – born too late to perish in the fields of Europe, yet born too early to escape the same fate – is a poignant reflection of the uncertainty many feel, particularly the young.
In these uncertain times, we turn to you, Lord, seeking strength and protection to navigate through each day. We find solace in the realization of our common humanity and interconnectedness, recognizing our deep-seated need for community and belonging. The simple comforts of home and the warmth of companionship with friends and neighbors become all the more precious to us.
Yet, amidst the turmoil, hope springs forth from within us. As people of faith, we cling to our faith that God is ever-present, just as He has been in the past and will continue to be in the future. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we reflect on the God’s mercy and love that envelops us, and even amidst uncertainty, and we proclaim with conviction, “My Lord, and my God.”
Springtime Prayer by Joyce Rupp
Ever-renewing and energizing Creator, come, stir in my dormant spiritual limbs. Wake up my tired prayer. Revive my weary efforts of care. Sing hope into my discouragement. Wash my dusty, drab attitude with the cleansing rains of your vision. Go deep to my roots and penetrate my faith with the vibrancy of your grace. Shake loose the old leftover oak leaves of my tenacious ego-centeredness. Coax joy to sprout from my difficulties. Warm the buds of my relationships so they bloom with healthy love. Clear out my wintered debris with the wild breeze of your liberating presence. Nudge me, woo me, entice me, draw me to you. I give you my trust and my gratitude as you grace my slowly thawing spirit. Light-filled Being, my Joy and my Hope, let the greening in me begin!
Image by David Eucaristía from Pixabay
Ronan Barry
