April 19,2020
My dear Sisters and Brothers,
 
Grace and Peace in our Risen Lord!
 
Today is the eighth and final day of the Octave of Easter.  On this grace-filled day we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  The Lord Jesus told Saint Faustina “On that day (the 8^th day of Easter each year) all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet.  My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.”  At this time of the corona virus pandemic gripping the whole world, and the costs to human lives and the economy are rising, who would not want to experience the super abundance of this Divine gift of mercy that God wants to pour forth upon us?
How are we to experience it? What does God want us to do?  It is to cry out like Thomas in the gospel “My Lord and my God!”  It is a cry of trust and faith in the Risen Christ who told Thomas and the disciples “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” How long are we to cry out to our God of perfect mercy aware of suffering, pain, anxiety and worry engulfing the world? Until this crisis is over? No, until our last breath and to continue affirming our faith and love to God in eternity.  The pattern is set before us by our blessed Lord.  His Resurrection required suffering and death.  It is the same for us who are now in communion with God as His beloved children in Christ Jesus. 
St. Peter in the second reading encourages us “… although you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith … may prove to be for praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  While we are undergoing these trials, let us follow the example of the early Christians in the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.  Let us live our communion with God and with each other through prayer, participating in the Mass done live streaming and respond with generosity to those in need especially the most vulnerable.  By doing these, we become merciful like God.  St. Thomas Aquinas says “the merciful is one who has a sorrowful heart; being affected with sorrow at the misery of another as though it were his own.  Since he is affected with sorrow of the other, he would want to dispel the misery of the other, which is the effect of mercy.”
Let me end this reflection with a quote from St. Augustine, “Our only hope, our only confidence, our only assured promise, Lord, is Your mercy.”
Fr. Pat and I are keeping you in our prayers and Masses.  Kindly do the same for us.  Mahalo and Aloha.

Joyfully In our Risen Lord,
Fr. Frankie, SSS
Pastor