FROM THE DESK OF FR. FRANCIS KALAW, PAROCHIAL VICAR.....  

This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy. We remember that God’s love is strong enough to conquer our human fears. We have gone through a year of pandemic enough to shake us up. However as Catholics we are called to something greater. There is nothing more profound than going back to the fundamental virtues our Catholic Church teaches. According to St. Thomas Aquinas we are called to practice virtues both in good times and in bad, the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love.
With Faith our strength is not only natural, it is also supernatural. We are Christians after all, called to trust  Jesus in all things, good and bad. We must look at the whole pandemic in the light of faith and allow that light to show us that God is still in control.
With Hope that arises from our faith, we have a hope that many of our neighbors do not share. We know the ultimate outcome of human history: a great victory for love and goodness, leading into eternal life; Jesus showed us just that. Thus all current crises and challenges can be seen in a different light. Evil may have its hour but the Lord will one day conquer it.
With Love or Charity our response needs to be animated thoroughly by love: love for God and neighbor, love for the sick, love for our families and friends who are threatened by this virus or even already enduring it, love for those without the faith and hope we are blessed with, love for those falling under suspicion or prejudice because of this epidemic.
Therefore as Catholics our model for responding to this pandemic should stem from our virtues. Like the Christians before us in history who faced such crises and gave outstanding witness to Christian charity. From the time of plagues in ancient Rome down to the present day Christian hospitals and medical facilities around the world have been outstanding, going to places in order to nurse the sick, bury the dead, and provide whatever aid possible.
Saint Faustina of Poland, who received extraordinary revelations of God’s loving and Divine Mercy, demonstrated courageous service to the poor and those in need. She also received that Divine Mercy when she was suffering from the tuberculosis that ultimately took her life. She teaches us that In all things we must pray, “Jesus, I trust in You.” We must refuse to give way to fear. We must abide in the virtues, repent when we fall, and turn again and again to our loving Lord as we transmit that love and mercy to those around us.
Jesus’ message to St. Faustina is the same message to us all: “I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 742).
As we continue to face and battle this pandemic let us trust in Jesus’ Divine Mercy. Let us commit to prayer, especially for all those afflicted with this disease, for all front line workers, for those working in essential businesses that provide our basic needs and for priests who continue to minister to the sick and dying. Let us remember our faith, drawing on the hope it gives us which allows us to truly love God and neighbor with Christian charity. As St. John Paul II said, “Be not afraid.” Jesus, I trust in You!”