Do you know the ABC OF MERCY?

“Peace be with you."  (John 20: 19, 21, 26 NABRE)

Peace, Shalom is the preeminent gift of Easter.  Have you noticed that in the Gospel of today (John 20: 19 - 31), Jesus pronounced the incomparable blessing of Shalom 3 times? Before you can enjoy this peace, you must be touched by the Mercy of God.

The universal Church celebrates today the Solemnity of Divine Mercy. (Always 2nd Sunday of Easter).  Jesus is the Face of Mercy of Abba Father.  Mercy is the name and essence of God the Father revealed to us through His Only Son, Jesus the Christ. The open Heart of Jesus is the symbol and seat of Mercy.  Mercy is promised to all. 

To prepare yourself to receive and retain Mercy, you must follow the ABC OF MERCY.  It is called  ABC because, it is an acronym that can be remembered easily and secondly it is as simple as ABC.

A:  Ask for Mercy.
B:  Be Merciful.
C:  Completely Trust Jesus for Mercy.

It is as easy and as simplistic as the Sacraments.  They are God’s mighty weapons, powerful enough to destroy Satanic strongholds.  (2 Corinthians 10: 4)

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Believe and share the Gospel.

 “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."  (Mark 16: 15).

This is the command of Jesus to every Christian.  Since nobody can give that which he has not, to preach the Good News, you must have it.  After the Resurrection, the Apostles did not have the Gospel.  They did not believe Mary Magdalene who witnessed to them that Christ has risen indeed.  They did not believe the two disciples whom Jesus met on the road to Emmaus.  (Luke 24: 13 - 32)

Jesus "rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised."  (Mark 16:  14).  Faith comes through hearing.  Thomas, the Apostle wanted to see the Risen Jesus before he could believe the testimony of others.   Are you a Thomas? (John 20: 25).   "Do not be unbelieving, but believe,”  Jesus said to the Thomases. (John 20: 27).

"Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”  (John 20: 29).   Belief and witnessing go hand in hand. If you believe the witnessing of others, people will believe your own witnessing.
Easter Season is the time to ask for faith to believe.

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Come and have breakfast.

"Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him,  “No.”   So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.”  (John 21: 5 - 6 NABRE).

We strive and struggle and strain to make a living or to get our hearts' desires.  Meanwhile Jesus who knows exactly what we need and when we need it is waiting for us.  “Come, have breakfast.” (John 21: 12).  The astonished disciples could not believe their eyes or ears.  Yet, this is not the first time in the Gospel that Jesus manifests such tenderness. 
"He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat."  (Mark 6: 31).  All the years I slaved for a corporate giant, I never got such an invitation from any of my bosses.

"Keep safe, O Lord, we pray,
those whom you have saved by your kindness that, redeemed by the Passion of your Son they may rejoice in his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever."

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Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

"He opened their minds to understand the scriptures."  (Luke 24: 45 NABRE)

After the Resurrection, Jesus opened the minds of His apostles to understand the Scriptures.  Unless the Lord Builds the House, they labor in vain who builds it. (Psalm 27: 1).  Unless the Lord opens your mind to understand the Scriptures you read and study the Scriptures in vain.  (Cf Luke 24: 45).  In vain you burn the midnight oil and buy expensive commentaries.
Ask the Lord repeatedly in prayer to open your mind to understand the Scriptures.

Remember:  The word of God is the sword of the Spirit.  (Cf Ephesians 6: 17).  Cultivate the friendship of the the Holy Spirit.  "For wisdom opened mouths that were mute and gave eloquence to the tongues of infants."  (Wisdom 10: 20 - 21 NABRE)

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In the Name of Jesus Christ, rise and walk.

“I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”  (Acts 3: 6 NABRE)

The crippled man rose and walked.

The very Name of Jesus represents three spiritual realities:
#1.  It is the Person of Jesus.
#2.  It is the Power of Jesus.
#3.  It is the Presence of Jesus.
You may call it the 3 P's of the Name of Jesus: Person, Power, Presence.

The Name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua.  It means God saves.  The Name Jesus causes what it signifies.  It brings about salvation:  Salvation from sin and sin induced disorders.  The Name of Jesus is a powerful weapon against evil spirits. 

Miracles happen when the Name of Jesus is invoked with faith.   Do you know that the Name of Jesus is a complete prayer?   "Jesus Son of David have mercy on me."  In emergency, you can simply pray: JESUS.  This invocation brings the Presence, Power and Person of Jesus to you.  It is not magic.  You must invoke it with faith.

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The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

"If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God;
mind the things that are above, alleluia."  (Colossians 3: 1-2 RM)

The above Scripture is one of the Easter Season constants.  Why? We have risen with Christ. We are new creation. We have received the Holy Spirit to help us live in a new way.  Are you ready for the adventure with the Risen Savior? Brace yourself for an exciting time with Jesus.  Discover Him in:

#1. Sacred Scripture
#2. Join small faith sharing group
#3.  Accept the gift of Daily Mass
#4.  Share your special gifts with your Church community

"This is the day (Season) the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it."  (Psalm 118: 24). Alleluia, Alleluia.

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The Lord has risen as He said.

“Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”  (Matthew 28: 10 NABRE)

Today is Monday in the Octave of Easter. After 40 Days of Lent, we enjoy 50 Days of celebration till the Solemnity of Pentecost.  It is a time to relax, enjoy and be happy because Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead.  And you are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

How do you witness to the Resurrection of Jesus? How do you recognize the Risen Christ?
#1.  In the Scriptures
#2.  In the Eucharist
#3.  In the Poor and Needy

Start by growing your faith through deeper commitment to daily prayer, daily study of Holy Scriptures and more days with the Lord in the Eucharist.

"Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know."  (Acts 2: 22)

Jesus is yearning to do great wonders through you.  Will you allow Him?

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