While There’s Still Time

Dear Friends in Christ,

            I want to begin by thanking the many parishioners who volunteered their time and energy, both in support of the Holy Week liturgies as well as behind the scenes, such as those who decorated our sanctuary for Easter.  A special word of thanks to thank Lora Viegas for the many hours she gave to us in preparing the Sacred Triduum and Easter Sunday liturgies as our lead sacristan and liturgical coordinator, which included setting up the beautiful altar of repose in the parish center on Holy Thursday and the many details in support of the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.  I am also most grateful for the work of our dedicated staff, for without their commitment to excellence, we would not have been able to offer such beautiful and reverent liturgies.  I also want to thank Deacon Tim Maloney for leading our OCIA program this year and the catechists who assisted.  You can see some great pictures on our website from the Easter Vigil.  Finally, I want to thank all of you, the parishioners of St. Joseph Church & School, for supporting the parish this Easter with your generous offerings as well as through our Lenten outreach programs.  For the remainder of this column, I would like to highlight the reason the Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday.  

            While Jesus teaches quite clearly in Matthew Ch. 25:31-46 the need to practice works of mercy, He also makes it quite clear throughout the Gospels that we should be ready for the day of judgment and the account we will have to give.  St. Paul encourages spiritual vigilance.   He writes in First Thessalonians 5:1-2, “But as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”  What will happen when we die?  The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph #1022 states, “Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven- through a purification (purgatory) or immediately- or immediate and everlasting damnation.”  In St. Faustina’s Diary, which has been published in many languages and is approved by the Church, she relates this prophetic message, received from the Lord: “My daughter, speak to the world about my Mercy; let all mankind recognize My unfathomable mercy.  It is a sign for the end times; after it will come the day of justice.  While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My mercy; let them profit from the Blood and Water which gushed forth for them.”  Paragraph #848

            There is an urgency to the message of Divine Mercy because our eternal destiny hinges on it.  On our own, without the help of grace, we cannot merit eternal life.  On the other hand, the choice of where we spend eternal life is ours to make.  For although God wills that all men and women be saved, we must choose to accept His mercy to enter heaven as we strive to live holy lives.  The Catechism states quite clearly what happens at death for those who have rejected God in this life by stating, “To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from him forever by our own free choice.  This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called hell.” CCC #1033 There is no clearer reason for why we should seek God’s mercy than the dreadful thought of eternal separation from God.  To that end, I hope and pray that you avail yourselves of the graces promised by Jesus through the private revelations received by Saint Faustina and approved and promulgated by Saint John Paul II.  It was in the year 2,000 that St. John Paul II established the 2nd Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday.  While Mom’s voice and presence will be absent at this year’s singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, my sister Maggie will keep the tradition alive, immediately following the 12:30 pm Mass.  Confessions will be offered after all four Masses as well.  Divine Mercy is a sign for the end times.  May we read the signs of the times and live accordingly, while there’s still time. 

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.  His mercy endures forever!