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And we usually need hindsight to see these signs and wonders of
God’s Divine Mercy.
One such sign started to unfold on June 2nd, 1979.
Anyone remember the significance of that date?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB0lxnxsHtIM8e2UqhvF7CJN6NwkRwa5OjrAJ6yozi1DoxcMIsxKXj7VSaSj-C-UCOktLMaQIkeISAog5JbxbkSM3J2-O8xoNuJm_C5XKg3ZGrYECDQeerUpb-P0OsJpaLUUu6_Ro9n8/s1600/58eb62f3baeb13875ba01986265e94b9.jpg)
On June 2, 1979, newly elevated Polish Archbishop Karol Wojtyla
returned to his homeland for the first time as Pope John Paul II.
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That moment and Papal visit uplifted a nation’s spirit and
sparked the formation of the Solidarity movement a few months later. The
Solidarity movement eventually blossomed into freedom in Poland and later
spread throughout the Eastern Block.
Historians point to that moment as the day the Berlin Wall began
to crumble. Soviet Communism would cease to exist a decade later when the
Berlin Wall was knocked down, piece by piece, in a joyous celebration of
humanity’s triumph over oppression and tyranny.
You want a tangible sign of God’s Divine Mercy in our lifetime?
It’s this little piece of a great wall that was used to crush human dignity.
God’s Divine Mercy gives us the strength to stand together against
evil and oppression, and overcome even the darkest forces in the world – even
our doubts.
But sometimes our faith is like gold that needs to be tested by
fire. We heard about that in today’s second reading. Only when our faith
is tested by fire can the light of the Resurrection shine through in
our lives.
In Christmas 1981, as a show of solidarity to the people of
Poland, many families lit a candle and placed it in the windows of their homes.
President Reagan had asked all Americans to do this during his
annual Christmas address. It was our country’s way of showing spiritual unity
with people struggling for freedom in Poland.
At that same moment, a young Pole named Mirek Sztajno was working
toward his PhD in Astrophysics and courting a young nurse who would later
become his wife, Anna. The two were both caught up in the Solidarity movement
and for the first time felt hope for the future. But their faith would be
tested by fire, too.
Mirek and Anna’s first child, son Michael, was born just a few
weeks after the communist government imposed the “Marshall Law” in Poland in
1982.
Mirek says it was a very difficult time for the family and
something they will never forget.
They could not buy anything since the shops were completely empty
and they urgently needed powdered milk for Michael since Anna could not produce
enough. Desperate, they went to a nearby parish to ask for help.
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It was a very difficult moment for Anna and Mirek, but God’s
Divine Mercy was a light shining in the darkness.
For five long years, I had the honor of sitting next to Dcn.
Mirek Sztajno during our deacon formation weekends.
Why do I bring up Poland, Solidarity and my dear Polish friend
Dcn. Mirek?
Today we celebrate the solemnity Divine Mercy Sunday, inspired by another Pole Sr. Faustina Kowalska, a nun of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
Today we celebrate the solemnity Divine Mercy Sunday, inspired by another Pole Sr. Faustina Kowalska, a nun of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
In the 1930s, just before World War Two, Sr. Faustina had
visions, visitations and shared conversations with Jesus. He asked her to
create what is now called the Divine Mercy Chaplet and to paint the vision of
His Merciful Divinity being poured our t from his sacred heart.
Problem was she didn’t know how to paint. It took her three years
to find someone who would paint this image under her direction.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzYGpTTU1ZcJJCoI-G9xCCI-vDAQdn7oeqEu78ra3XAMSlpSZRWz8bt3Nwmjc8dzJfUwQXYRMZfSGEEfNFgXamrmaIh4VDbcPDlQMr0Tqcp3TUDAwdOKvxwBzqN1x5H4RfTW8iR4vrII/s1600/dmercy5-faustina.jpg)
Jesus said to Sister Faustina: "Humanity will never
find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy."
Jesus promised Sr. Faustina if you’ve gone to confession recently
and take communion on Divine Mercy Sunday “complete forgiveness of sins” will
be your reward. In other words, a soul is granted freedom from the
oppression of sin and darkness by the light of Christ’s Divine Mercy.
The human spirit doesn’t function well when it’s oppressed.
Just ask the people of Poland who endured over 40 years of Soviet oppression.
Sister Faustina died at the age of 33 in October 1938 and is
buried in what is now known as the Basilica of Divine Mercy in Krakow,
Poland.
Pope John Paul II instituted Divine Mercy Sunday as an annual
liturgical celebration in the year 2000, and at the same time he canonized St.
Faustina.
I’m sure some of you remember what happened six years ago this
weekend?
Pope John Paul II was made Saint John Paul the Great by Pope
Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday. Interestingly enough, this famous Polish pope
and saint died on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday in 2005.
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So, if you’re experiencing doubt (and aren’t we all in the time
of pandemic), you’re in good company this weekend.
Jesus calls us all to experience His Divine Mercy, to see it
alive in our lives. And let His Divine Mercy banish all doubt, all fear,
all oppression, all darkness, and all guilt from our very souls.
Then and only then will His words “Peace be with you”
ring true in our hearts.
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