There are moments when I am skeptical of the Divine Mercy. From that period between Good Friday through the Second Sunday of Easter, I see many devotions to Divine Mercy, many chaplets recited in Church, all in hopes of obtaining the free card into heaven for a loved one or for the sinner praying these pious prayers. That is only a personal observation, and deep down inside me, I love this devotion to mercy. It is a reminder that nothing is outside of God’s reach.

Saint Caesarius of Arles gave a sermon that gives great insight into God’s mercy.¹ The fifth-century bishop’s wisdom is helpful for us on this Divine Mercy Sunday.

Saint Caesarius states that mercy is an imitation of the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” If we wish to be recipients of mercy, we must practice mercy towards others today. He says,

If he expects to receive any mercy in heaven, he should give mercy on earth. Do we all desire to receive mercy? Let us make mercy our patroness now, and she will free us in the world to come. Yes, there is mercy in heaven, but the road to it is paved by our merciful acts on earth. As Scripture says: Lord, your mercy is in heaven.

He then distinguishes human mercy and divine mercy. Human mercy deals with caring for the poor, while divine mercy is the forgiveness of sins. God is the recipient of human mercy and the dispenser of divine mercy. The bishop states,

In this life God feels cold and hunger in all who are stricken with poverty; for, remember, he once said: What you have done to the least of my brothers you have done to me. Yes, God who sees fit to give his mercy in heaven wishes it to be a reality here on earth.

Finally, the bishop asks what our motives are when we pray. It should always be mercy. We should be willing to extend mercy to the poor to secure mercy in heaven.

Christ is the human and divine mercy of God. Christ is par excellence mercy itself. From his heart gushed blood and water for the world. The first recipient of such mercy was the one who pierced him!

Divine Mercy Sunday is a reminder that we are called to live out the Cross in our daily lives. We are agents of mercy for the world. This Sunday is a reminder of God’s illogical love and mercy for everyone who seeks him with a sincere heart, even at the very last moment.

Happy Divine Mercy, everyone!

1. The full homily of Saint Caesarius of Arles is found in the Divine Office. It is the Second Reading for the Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time. ↩︎