His Mercy is Real

4/19/2020

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

John 20:19-31

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

Doubt is a funny thing. In many ways we’re bred to be skeptics from birth, no? I won’t believe it till I see it, till I know it with certainty. I used to doubt that the St. Louis Blues would ever win a Stanley Cup, until they actually did it. Literally right down until the last 30 seconds of Game 7 I was convinced they’d somehow blow it. I also used to doubt that Niagara Falls was really all the beautiful/important, until I actually saw it. And these are stupid things to be skeptical about, but suffice it to say on this Sunday, a glorious day in the Church where we celebrate Divine Mercy, the immense love and mercy God has for all of us, everyone, no matter who you, it can be easy to be what we’re born and bred for: a skeptic. Doubting. Lord, how could you ever truly love me? How could you ever have mercy on me for my sins?

I believe that’s why the Church chooses this Gospel featuring St. Thomas for today. Good old Doubting Thomas! Poor guy. The same Apostle who in this same Gospel only chapters earlier uttered, “Let us go too [with Jesus] that we may also die with Him”, is always synonymous with our propensity to be skeptics. To be fair, he does that in this Gospel and brings it upon himself, but the significance of St. Thomas should cause us to go beyond the children’s moniker so often bestowed upon him.

Here’s what Thomas teaches us on a day like Divine Mercy Sunday: do you believe in the goodness of God? Do you believe in the love that He has for you? Do you believe that His mercy for you in unending? That nothing you could ever do could finally separate you from Him and that you always have the ability to repent and come back to the Lord who never stops loving you? Do you believe that He has this mercy and love not just for you, but for everyone? For your mom, your dad, your siblings, your friends, and the people you hate?

Sin makes us skeptics. It puts distance between us and God and makes us look at Him in an incredulous and unbelievable light: how could someone love me in spite of these weaknesses? How could someone have mercy on my even with all the wrong I’ve done to them?

Divine Mercy Sunday causes us to reflect on the truth that God’s love and mercy for you is unending. It will never run dry. The challenge for you this day, is can you transcend doubt and instead join in saying the immortal and everlasting words of the great St. Thomas in today’s Gospel, to see the glory of God, His unending mercy and goodness, in this Easter season and say, “My Lord and my God!”.

His Mercy is real. Believe it. AMDG.

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

Do you struggle to believe that God loves you and His mercy is bigger than any and all of your sins? What do you struggle the most with in this area? What do you struggle the most in believing that God's love and mercy is bigger than, and why?

How can you learn to trust in God's mercy a little more today?

Go back to today's reflection and spend a few moments really thinking about each of those questions.

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Jesus, I trust in You."

"Jesus, I trust in You."

"Jesus, I trust in You."

"My Lord, and my God."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

With today being Divine Mercy Sunday, spend some time asking for that Mercy. While we may not be able to go to the Sacrament of Confession, we can still bring to the Lord our sincere hearts and ask for His mercy and forgiveness. Today's act is two part:

Do an examination of conscience and do it well. Spend some time actually thinking about where you need mercy and forgiveness most. You can use any examination of conscience guide or just truly examine your heart. Here is a sample one if you need help. Then pray the act of contrition.
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. If you have never prayed this before, it only takes about 5-10 minutes and can be prayed on a rosary or your fingers if you don't have one! It is a beautiful reflection on God's Divine Mercy.

Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

Today's prayer was prepared by Matthew Maxwell, a graduate of Franciscan University currently working as a Youth Minister in St. Louis.

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.

CARPE VERBUM