7 April 2024 - Only By Grace Reflections

#OnlyByGraceReflections #CFC #CouplesforChrist #Divine MercySunday

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TOPIC: DO I TRULY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR?

First Reading: Acts 4: 32-35
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Second Reading: First John 5: 1-6
Alleluia: John 20: 29
Gospel: John 20: 19-31

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska in the 1930s, our Lord Jesus called for a special feast day to be celebrated on the Sunday after Easter.

The Lord expressed His will with regard to this feast in His very first revelation to St. Faustina. The most comprehensive revelation can be found in her Diary entry 699:

"My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy.

I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy.

The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.

On that day are opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow. 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. Everything that exists has come from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness.

It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My mercy."

Today, the Feast of the Divine Mercy, we reflect on the awesome power of God's grace, which allows us to truly trust in His mercy and love, and extend that same mercy and love to all we meet.

This is the 1441st installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings.

[NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Israel Silud, Regional Coordinator for East Asia, as he brings us today's reflection.

All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that we may live them out in our lives. This video is also available on Couples for Christ’s Facebook page. In You Tube, just type ONLY BY GRACE REFLECTIONS]