Divine Mercy Sunday

This date will long be remembered by many all throughout the world. It was Divine Mercy Sunday, exactly a week after Resurrection. Also, on that memorable day, two Popes were canonized as saints.

Celebrating the day of the Lord's Divine Mercy is already a joyful occasion. Imagine God's unfathomable, immeasurable love poured out for all and His ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world! This day reminds us to stay in full trust in our Holy God, in our Holy Almighty God, in our Immortal God, Who continues to shower us with His divine love and mercy!

Together with this Feast of the Divine Mercy, last Sunday celebrated two Popes who lived and served the Lord and were canonized as saints by a grateful church.

Pope John the XXIII may have appeared as a very frail elderly Pontiff but he did not allow his age or physical condition to stop his zeal to serve the Lord. He is best remembered for opening wide the then exclusive closed doors of the Catholic Church. He convened the Ecumenical Council and renewed dialogue and understanding among those from various religions and beliefs. During his reign, the Church opened up to the rest of the world to confirm that God's love and mercy is for all, for everyone, all throughout the world.

While Pope John XXIII stayed in Rome, Pope John Paul II travelled to many parts of the world, personally bringing God's love to all. He is remembered as one who, upon his arrival, kissed the ground of the places he visited. Despite being hit by an assassin's bullet, this Pope embraced and forgave the assassin and served as a genuine witness of God's love!

Pope John Paul II also showed all the face of our God the Father. His open love for people, especially the young, gave testimony about how much all of us are loved by our God the Father who gave us His only Son as proof of God's greatest love for all!

That April 27th Sunday will also be remembered for bringing together two more Popes, with the two canonized Popes. It was a rare and truly memorable occasion to see former Pope Benedict with the present Pope Francis! Together with thousands of worshippers and guests, April 27, 2014 will be long remembered as a day when 4 Popes were brought together on a Divine Mercy Sunday.

The canonization rite was long and solemn. The crowds stirred anew as soon as Pope Francis took to the Pope mobile to start greeting the public! He glanced at his watch, perhaps, to gauge how much time he wanted to share with his flock? Everyone waited for this Pope to make any spontaneous gesture, as he is wont to do, to get away from his security guards and to reach out to those around him!

Pope Francis has been very successful in humanizing the Papacy. His spontaneous acts of love, embracing those with disabilities, carrying and hugging the children, and totally being unmindful about exposing himself to security risks, among other acts, have convinced so many about the genuineness of God's love as expressed in this present Pope's actions.

It will not come as a surprise, if like Mother Teresa, Pope Francis will be declared a living saint. He has shown how divine love can be humanized and shared with all. Through his actions and reminders to all, this present Pope continues to reach out to the whole world, to proclaim and share God's love and mercy with all.

And as we move on beyond April 27, 2014, we are all reminded as well about proclaiming and witnessing about God's love and mercy to all those sent our way in our lives.

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