What a powerful revealing truth from the weekend's Gospel of John of the Lord's merciful love!

Jesus confronts the Apostle Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee during the period of appearing following the resurrection of Our Lord. On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter denied three times to have known Our Lord, just as Jesus predicted during the Last Supper. On the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asks the Apostle Peter three times if he loved him, which reflects the three-time denial. Peter responds to each question by answering, "Lord, you know that I love you."

You and I know the emotions that stir up within us when we face the people who have hurt us deeply or we face the people who have hurt or offended through our human weakness. It is not easy for us to forgive others or bring up a spirit of courage to ask for forgiveness to those who have been wounded by our actions.

Jesus forgave Peter and then goes further to entrust Peter to tend to the sheep and feed His lambs!

If we do not comprehend no understand forgiveness, then we do not know Jesus Christ, the true source of love and mercy. Jesus knows us, especially how difficult and challenging it is for us to forgive others or for us to be courageous and humble to ask forgiveness to those we have hurt. Jesus forgave us and He offers us the opportunity to receive the fullness of the grace of His love and mercy.

Every day, Jesus asks us, "Do you love me?"

What is our honest response and do our daily actions back up our response?

Easter Sunday has come and gone, but we are still int he season of Easter! Alleluia!

The second Sunday of Easter is Divine Mercy weekend. Do you know what Divine Mercy means? How do you define it? What example of Divine Mercy could you offer? Remember that the name of mercy is God. Mercy meets misery.

As we pray every weekend during the Mass, we pray to seek God's mercy, receive God's mercy, and share God's mercy.

Every time we come to church, there are visible signs of Divine Mercy. The image of Jesus Christ on the cross; seeing the confessional, where one is washed in mercy and reconciliation; the baptismal font where, in mercy, one is freed from the stain of original sin; and the Altar, where we receive merciful nourishment through Holy Communion, the Body and Blood, soul and divinity and the true presence of our savior Jesus Christ!

Have you truly sought Divine Mercy? Have you truly embraced Divine Mercy? Have you, in receiving the fullness of the grace of Divine Mercy, shared it with the poor souls you know and recognize in your presence?

May our daily prayer in love and courage be, "Jesus, I trust in you!"

Le us be a person of Easter and joyfully proclaim, "Christ is alive! Christ is risen!" Amen! Alleluia!!