divine mercy sunday
April 26–27, 2025
This Sunday’s readings draw us into a room full of fear, silence, and shame—and into the heart of a Savior who walks through walls to bring peace. Divine Mercy Sunday isn’t just about forgiveness in the abstract. It’s about encounter—Jesus entering our locked places with wounds still visible, and love still freely given.
Whether we’re hiding behind doubt like Thomas or regret like Peter, the message is the same: He comes anyway. He comes to breathe peace, to offer healing, and to remind us that His mercy is not earned—it’s given.
Opening Prayer
Jesus, my Lord and my God,You come to me even when I’m locked away in fear or shame.You bring peace when I expect judgment,and mercy when I expect silence.
Help me to believe in Your love,even when I can’t feel it.Help me to receive Your mercy,even when I doubt I deserve it.
Open the doors of my heart,and teach me to walk in peace, forgiveness, and trust.Amen.
Step 1: Read and Reflect
📖 1st Reading – Acts 5:12–16“Great numbers of men and women were added to the Lord.”• Have I witnessed the quiet healing power of faith in someone’s life—even my own?• How does God use ordinary people, like Peter, to carry out extraordinary acts of mercy?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine people being brought into the streets just to feel the shadow of mercy pass over them. Think of someone in your life who needs healing—physical, emotional, spiritual. Hold them in prayer as if laying them at Jesus’ feet.
📖 Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24“His mercy endures forever.”• Do I truly believe that God’s mercy is deeper than my worst days?• Where have I experienced His mercy carrying me through something I thought I wouldn’t survive?
🕊 Meditation: Repeat slowly, “His mercy endures forever.” Let it become a heartbeat prayer. As you breathe, let His mercy replace old guilt, shame, or fear.
📖 2nd Reading – Revelation 1:9–11a, 12–13, 17–19“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last… I was dead, but now I live.”• What fears or losses still hold weight in my heart?• Do I trust that Jesus is already standing in the middle of every “unknown” in my life?
🕊 Meditation: Picture Jesus placing His hand on your shoulder and saying, “Do not be afraid.” What fear, pain, or memory is He asking you to release today?
📖 Gospel – John 20:19–31“Peace be with you.”• Where am I still hiding—behind closed doors of doubt, regret, or self-protection?• How would it feel to hear Jesus speak peace into that very place?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine the room you lock others—and even God—out of. See Jesus walk straight through the wall, sit down beside you, and show you His wounds. What would you say to Him? What does He say to you?
Step 2: Personal Response
Jesus, You didn’t wait for the disciples to get it right before You showed up.You came through their fear, through their locked doors, and offered peace.You still do that for me.
Sometimes I doubt like Thomas.Sometimes I hide like the others.But You come anyway—You come not to shame me, but to love me back to life.
Help me to trust Your mercy,especially when I feel least worthy of it.Help me to show that same mercy to others—especially when it’s hardest to give.
Breathe Your peace into the rooms I’ve locked.Touch my wounds with Your healing hand.And stay long enough for me to believe again.
Amen.
Step 3: Living the Word This Week
• Practice Honest Prayer – Like Thomas, speak your doubts, your fears, and your hopes directly to Jesus. Let prayer be a place of truth, not performance.• Be Someone’s Peace – Find one person in your life who feels alone or ashamed and reach out—not to fix them, but to gently say, “You’re not alone.”• Show Up with Mercy – Do one quiet act of mercy this week—no recognition, no spotlight. Just love, offered freely, as Christ does.
As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, remember this:You don’t have to unlock every door.Jesus walks through them.Mercy comes anyway.
Amen.
This Sunday’s readings draw us into a room full of fear, silence, and shame—and into the heart of a Savior who walks through walls to bring peace. Divine Mercy Sunday isn’t just about forgiveness in the abstract. It’s about encounter—Jesus entering our locked places with wounds still visible, and love still freely given.
Whether we’re hiding behind doubt like Thomas or regret like Peter, the message is the same: He comes anyway. He comes to breathe peace, to offer healing, and to remind us that His mercy is not earned—it’s given.
Opening Prayer
Jesus, my Lord and my God,You come to me even when I’m locked away in fear or shame.You bring peace when I expect judgment,and mercy when I expect silence.
Help me to believe in Your love,even when I can’t feel it.Help me to receive Your mercy,even when I doubt I deserve it.
Open the doors of my heart,and teach me to walk in peace, forgiveness, and trust.Amen.
Step 1: Read and Reflect
📖 1st Reading – Acts 5:12–16“Great numbers of men and women were added to the Lord.”• Have I witnessed the quiet healing power of faith in someone’s life—even my own?• How does God use ordinary people, like Peter, to carry out extraordinary acts of mercy?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine people being brought into the streets just to feel the shadow of mercy pass over them. Think of someone in your life who needs healing—physical, emotional, spiritual. Hold them in prayer as if laying them at Jesus’ feet.
📖 Psalm 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24“His mercy endures forever.”• Do I truly believe that God’s mercy is deeper than my worst days?• Where have I experienced His mercy carrying me through something I thought I wouldn’t survive?
🕊 Meditation: Repeat slowly, “His mercy endures forever.” Let it become a heartbeat prayer. As you breathe, let His mercy replace old guilt, shame, or fear.
📖 2nd Reading – Revelation 1:9–11a, 12–13, 17–19“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last… I was dead, but now I live.”• What fears or losses still hold weight in my heart?• Do I trust that Jesus is already standing in the middle of every “unknown” in my life?
🕊 Meditation: Picture Jesus placing His hand on your shoulder and saying, “Do not be afraid.” What fear, pain, or memory is He asking you to release today?
📖 Gospel – John 20:19–31“Peace be with you.”• Where am I still hiding—behind closed doors of doubt, regret, or self-protection?• How would it feel to hear Jesus speak peace into that very place?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine the room you lock others—and even God—out of. See Jesus walk straight through the wall, sit down beside you, and show you His wounds. What would you say to Him? What does He say to you?
Step 2: Personal Response
Jesus, You didn’t wait for the disciples to get it right before You showed up.You came through their fear, through their locked doors, and offered peace.You still do that for me.
Sometimes I doubt like Thomas.Sometimes I hide like the others.But You come anyway—You come not to shame me, but to love me back to life.
Help me to trust Your mercy,especially when I feel least worthy of it.Help me to show that same mercy to others—especially when it’s hardest to give.
Breathe Your peace into the rooms I’ve locked.Touch my wounds with Your healing hand.And stay long enough for me to believe again.
Amen.
Step 3: Living the Word This Week
• Practice Honest Prayer – Like Thomas, speak your doubts, your fears, and your hopes directly to Jesus. Let prayer be a place of truth, not performance.• Be Someone’s Peace – Find one person in your life who feels alone or ashamed and reach out—not to fix them, but to gently say, “You’re not alone.”• Show Up with Mercy – Do one quiet act of mercy this week—no recognition, no spotlight. Just love, offered freely, as Christ does.
As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, remember this:You don’t have to unlock every door.Jesus walks through them.Mercy comes anyway.
Amen.
MEDITATION GUIDE FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
This week’s readings invite us into the wilderness—not just the physical desert where Jesus was tempted, but the wilderness of our own hearts. We all have moments of struggle, doubt, and temptation. Lent is an opportunity to step away from the noise of the world and listen more closely to God’s voice. It’s a time to recognize our weaknesses, yes, but more importantly, to rediscover that we are never alone in them.
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I begin this Lenten journey, help me to recognize the deserts in my own life—the places where I feel lost, weak, or tempted. Give me the strength to trust You, to turn to You in times of trial, and to remember that You are always with me. Open my heart to hear Your voice and walk in Your ways. Amen.
Step 1: Read and Reflect
1st Reading – Deuteronomy 26:4-10
“The Lord heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. He brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.” • Have I ever felt forgotten or unheard in my struggles? • Can I look back and recognize moments when God has helped me, even when I didn’t see it at the time?
🕊 Meditation: Think about a time when you faced a challenge and later realized that God was working through it. Imagine yourself lifting that experience up to Him in gratitude. What does He say in return?
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 91:1-15
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” • When life becomes overwhelming, do I turn to God as my refuge, or do I try to handle everything on my own? • What fears or worries am I holding onto that I need to place in God’s hands?
🕊 Meditation: Picture yourself standing in a storm, rain pouring down, wind howling. Then imagine stepping under a shelter—safe, dry, and at peace. That shelter is God’s presence. What storm in your life do you need to step out of and hand over to Him?
2nd Reading – Romans 10:8-13
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart… Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” • Do I sometimes feel that I need to prove myself worthy of God’s love, rather than simply receiving it? • What would it look like to trust fully in God’s promises, even when I don’t feel strong enough?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine Jesus standing beside you, looking into your eyes with deep love and saying, “I am here. I will never leave you.” Let those words sink in. What part of your heart needs to believe that truth today?
Gospel – Luke 4:1-13
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” • In what areas of my life am I most tempted to rely on myself instead of God? • What are the “stones” I try to turn into “bread”—the things I reach for instead of trusting God’s plan?
🕊 Meditation: Picture yourself in the desert with Jesus. You’re both tired, hungry, and feeling the weight of struggle. He turns to you and says, “You don’t have to do this alone.” How does that change the way you face your own trials?
Step 2: Personal Response
Lord, I recognize that, like Jesus, I walk through wilderness moments in my life. I face temptations—sometimes to doubt, sometimes to despair, sometimes to try to control things myself. But You remind me that I don’t have to fight these battles alone. Help me to lean on You, to trust in Your promises, and to seek You as my refuge. Teach me that real strength comes not from my own power, but from surrendering to You. Amen.
Step 3: Living the Word This Week • Turn to God First – Before reacting to stress, frustration, or temptation, pause and pray. Ask God to guide your response. • Let Go of Control – Identify one worry or struggle that you keep trying to fix on your own. Consciously place it in God’s hands. • Seek Real Nourishment – Instead of reaching for distractions or comfort in things that don’t truly satisfy, spend a few moments in Scripture, prayer, or silence each day.
As we walk through this season of Lent, may we learn to trust that God is with us in every wilderness—and that He is leading us toward something greater. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I begin this Lenten journey, help me to recognize the deserts in my own life—the places where I feel lost, weak, or tempted. Give me the strength to trust You, to turn to You in times of trial, and to remember that You are always with me. Open my heart to hear Your voice and walk in Your ways. Amen.
Step 1: Read and Reflect
1st Reading – Deuteronomy 26:4-10
“The Lord heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. He brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.” • Have I ever felt forgotten or unheard in my struggles? • Can I look back and recognize moments when God has helped me, even when I didn’t see it at the time?
🕊 Meditation: Think about a time when you faced a challenge and later realized that God was working through it. Imagine yourself lifting that experience up to Him in gratitude. What does He say in return?
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 91:1-15
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” • When life becomes overwhelming, do I turn to God as my refuge, or do I try to handle everything on my own? • What fears or worries am I holding onto that I need to place in God’s hands?
🕊 Meditation: Picture yourself standing in a storm, rain pouring down, wind howling. Then imagine stepping under a shelter—safe, dry, and at peace. That shelter is God’s presence. What storm in your life do you need to step out of and hand over to Him?
2nd Reading – Romans 10:8-13
“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart… Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” • Do I sometimes feel that I need to prove myself worthy of God’s love, rather than simply receiving it? • What would it look like to trust fully in God’s promises, even when I don’t feel strong enough?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine Jesus standing beside you, looking into your eyes with deep love and saying, “I am here. I will never leave you.” Let those words sink in. What part of your heart needs to believe that truth today?
Gospel – Luke 4:1-13
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” • In what areas of my life am I most tempted to rely on myself instead of God? • What are the “stones” I try to turn into “bread”—the things I reach for instead of trusting God’s plan?
🕊 Meditation: Picture yourself in the desert with Jesus. You’re both tired, hungry, and feeling the weight of struggle. He turns to you and says, “You don’t have to do this alone.” How does that change the way you face your own trials?
Step 2: Personal Response
Lord, I recognize that, like Jesus, I walk through wilderness moments in my life. I face temptations—sometimes to doubt, sometimes to despair, sometimes to try to control things myself. But You remind me that I don’t have to fight these battles alone. Help me to lean on You, to trust in Your promises, and to seek You as my refuge. Teach me that real strength comes not from my own power, but from surrendering to You. Amen.
Step 3: Living the Word This Week • Turn to God First – Before reacting to stress, frustration, or temptation, pause and pray. Ask God to guide your response. • Let Go of Control – Identify one worry or struggle that you keep trying to fix on your own. Consciously place it in God’s hands. • Seek Real Nourishment – Instead of reaching for distractions or comfort in things that don’t truly satisfy, spend a few moments in Scripture, prayer, or silence each day.
As we walk through this season of Lent, may we learn to trust that God is with us in every wilderness—and that He is leading us toward something greater. Amen.
Meditation Guide for the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This week’s readings challenge us to reflect on the integrity of our hearts and the fruit of our lives. They call us to examine our speech, our actions, and the foundation of our faith, reminding us that true wisdom and goodness come from a heart deeply rooted in God.
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I meditate on Your Word today, open my heart to receive Your truth. Help me to see myself honestly, to recognize where I need to grow, and to trust in Your grace to transform me. May my words, thoughts, and actions reflect Your love and wisdom. Amen.
Step 1: Read and Reflect
1st Reading – Sirach 27:4-7
“When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks.”
• What do my words reveal about my heart? • Do I speak with wisdom, love, and patience, or do I speak out of frustration, pride, or judgment? • How can I allow God to purify my heart so that my words reflect His goodness?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine God gently refining you, like a potter shaping clay. What areas of your heart need His refining touch today?
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 92:2-3, 13-16
“The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.”
• Am I firmly planted in the house of the Lord, or do I allow myself to be swayed by the world? • Do I take time each day to give thanks to God, or do I let worries and distractions consume my thoughts?
🕊 Meditation: Take a moment to thank God for one thing in your life today. Let gratitude take root in your heart.
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
• Where do I struggle to trust in Christ’s victory over sin and death? • How can I be more steadfast and devoted to God’s work, even when I don’t see immediate results?
🕊 Meditation: Picture Christ standing beside you, strengthening you for the journey ahead. What is He asking you to persevere in today?
Gospel – Luke 6:39-45
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?”
• Do I focus more on others’ faults than on my own need for conversion? • What kind of fruit am I bearing in my daily life? Are my words and actions leading others closer to Christ?
🕊 Meditation: Close your eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one “wooden beam” in your own heart that needs to be removed. How can you surrender it to God this week?
Step 2: Personal Response
Lord, I recognize that my words and actions reveal what is in my heart. Purify me, shape me, and make me more like You. Help me to focus on my own spiritual growth rather than judging others. May my life bear good fruit—fruit that draws others to You. Strengthen me in times of trial, and give me the perseverance to live in faith, hope, and love. Amen.
Step 3: Living the Word This Week
• Examine Your Words – Pay attention to how you speak to others. Do your words build up or tear down? • Practice Humility – Before criticizing others, take time to reflect on your own areas of growth. • Bear Good Fruit – Find one way to show kindness or encouragement to someone this week.
May the Lord bless you as you seek to grow in wisdom and bear good fruit for His glory!
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I meditate on Your Word today, open my heart to receive Your truth. Help me to see myself honestly, to recognize where I need to grow, and to trust in Your grace to transform me. May my words, thoughts, and actions reflect Your love and wisdom. Amen.
Step 1: Read and Reflect
1st Reading – Sirach 27:4-7
“When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks.”
• What do my words reveal about my heart? • Do I speak with wisdom, love, and patience, or do I speak out of frustration, pride, or judgment? • How can I allow God to purify my heart so that my words reflect His goodness?
🕊 Meditation: Imagine God gently refining you, like a potter shaping clay. What areas of your heart need His refining touch today?
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 92:2-3, 13-16
“The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.”
• Am I firmly planted in the house of the Lord, or do I allow myself to be swayed by the world? • Do I take time each day to give thanks to God, or do I let worries and distractions consume my thoughts?
🕊 Meditation: Take a moment to thank God for one thing in your life today. Let gratitude take root in your heart.
2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
• Where do I struggle to trust in Christ’s victory over sin and death? • How can I be more steadfast and devoted to God’s work, even when I don’t see immediate results?
🕊 Meditation: Picture Christ standing beside you, strengthening you for the journey ahead. What is He asking you to persevere in today?
Gospel – Luke 6:39-45
“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?”
• Do I focus more on others’ faults than on my own need for conversion? • What kind of fruit am I bearing in my daily life? Are my words and actions leading others closer to Christ?
🕊 Meditation: Close your eyes and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal one “wooden beam” in your own heart that needs to be removed. How can you surrender it to God this week?
Step 2: Personal Response
Lord, I recognize that my words and actions reveal what is in my heart. Purify me, shape me, and make me more like You. Help me to focus on my own spiritual growth rather than judging others. May my life bear good fruit—fruit that draws others to You. Strengthen me in times of trial, and give me the perseverance to live in faith, hope, and love. Amen.
Step 3: Living the Word This Week
• Examine Your Words – Pay attention to how you speak to others. Do your words build up or tear down? • Practice Humility – Before criticizing others, take time to reflect on your own areas of growth. • Bear Good Fruit – Find one way to show kindness or encouragement to someone this week.
May the Lord bless you as you seek to grow in wisdom and bear good fruit for His glory!