I am grateful for the invitation of Zion Community to join the Community and its many guests from the entire Archdiocese to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday specifically the 14th consecutive Mercy March hosted by Zion Community. I am honoured to give the feature address here in Skinner Park in San Fernando.

See Front Page story

My day began early this morning with a Mass in the Cathedral sending forth an overflow crowd of pilgrims to their day of prayer and witness in nine churches of the Northern, Suburban and Eastern Vicariates.

Since this celebration has strong representation from the Central and Southern Vicariates, the entire Archdiocese has celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday not only in their parishes but also in special celebrations. 

The theme for the liturgy in the Cathedral this morning was Receiving Divine Mercy. Your theme this afternoon is from the prophet Micah, “Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (Micah 6: 8).

The context of the celebration

I think it is important to note the context of our celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday. The context is one of crime and violence, death and pain, fear and suspicion – not just in the nation, but also in the region and throughout the world.

People are so tired of it all. They ask, “Will it ever end? Will life ever again be marked by justice, love of mercy and humble relationship with God?”

The answer to that question which is asked in discouragement may surprise you. The answer to the question is, ‘It is quite possible that a restoration will occur that is marked by justice, mercy and humility.’ Why do I think so? I think so because the fact is that most people are good people. 

Most people are not violent. They are not criminals. While it is true that many people may be struggling with a lack of clear values due to the absence of religious living, it is also true that most people are not the vicious, hurting people that we read about each day in the papers or hear about in the electronic media. That is good news that is often underreported. It is also one reason why a restoration is truly possible.

Biblical history

A bit of biblical history may be helpful to our celebration! The time of Micah the prophet was a very difficult period of history. It was a time of war and danger. Savage inhumanity in human relations was common in Micah’s day.

The prophets condemned it, but they were generally ignored. Life meant nothing. Justice was absent. Arrogant disrespect for God was everywhere.

Yet there was remnant of people who did listen to the prophets and who did live the theme you proclaim today on Divine Mercy Sunday:
1) to do the right (justice) – to respect others according to the wisdom and the values of God;
2) to love goodness – a response to God’s wisdom and values not out of duty but out of love and gratitude;
3) to walk humbly – that means to recognise our dependence on God and to live in relationship with God.  

The remnant hoped for and worked for a restoration by a shepherd who would reestablish God’s wisdom and values among the people. We live in that period of history. We know that the Shepherd became man, died, rose and freed the Spirit to offer us a place in a community of salvation and peace.

If that is true, why is it that life has not changed very much? What is the way back?

Analysis of the trends

The reason things haven’t changed very much is because the process in which young people, the middle aged and even senior citizens learn the wisdom and values of God has broken down. I intend to speak to that aspect of the trend later in this reflection.

I know that some, possibly many of you, are caught in the trap of two extremes: 1) a lack of significant information and formation in your faith and 2) you are faced with very attractively packaged neo- pagan witness that confuses, enslaves and sometimes even kills.

The way back is to reestablish the process that helps you to learn the wisdom and values of God and provides you with ongoing support to live and grow in that wisdom and those values.

The way back requires that you freely choose God’s wisdom and values and also choose to share them with others in ministry.

Is restoration possible?

When the Church began, the world at the time was controlled by pagan and powerful Rome. The challenge to restore God’s values looked hopeless: the weakness and smallness of the Church against power and expansiveness of the Roman Empire. Be encouraged by remembering this fact:

The powerful and expansive Roman Empire doesn’t exist today. However, the small and weak Catholic community of the early Church now numbers one billion, 356 million people throughout the world. Don’t tell me it can’t be done! Have confidence in the Spirit who has brought the Church to this point in history. 

How can restoration be achieved? I recommend my administrative philosophy: Think big! Start small! Be patient! Create small successes and let them multiply.

The method of the early Church

Let’s talk specifics! How did the early Church solidify itself? How did it strengthen itself? The Acts of the Apostles tells the story. The Christian Community gathered regularly. What did they do when they gathered?

They were fed by catechesis which told the story and teaching of Jesus (remember the New Testament was not yet written); the Christians applied the teaching to their lives individually and as a community; they spent time together at times to pray, at times to have fun, at times to do ministry; they ate together as a family and talked and listened to each other; they gathered on Sunday to worship the God of their salvation. They trusted each other and protected each other.

How did that nice little package of Christian lifestyle usually happen? It happened in family, in the interaction and the witness of the family! The ministry of the family was extended through the local community (now called a parish) and eventually in more depth in the school. Does the dynamic I just described in the early Church happen in your family, in your parish and in your school? Or have we slowly become strangers to each other?     

The Synod process

Let me ask you a question. What three areas have been areas of consistent concentration in the last two Synods? The areas of concentrations were: the renewal of family, the renewal of catechesis including the initiative of adult education/formation and the renewal of the Catholic school.

These are the same three issues (in different terms) that were essential issues in the early Church: family, catechesis and education/formation. Has there been progress? There has been slow but steady progress. I guarantee you that more progress will be part of the near future.

As the Archdiocese moves into the future, it must create a deeper awareness and appreciation of the faith, Catholic spirituality and unity in the community e.g. an understanding of what we celebrate today - Divine Mercy Sunday. In that context, let us look at a few important questions.