In the last hours of Divine Mercy Sunday, shows were interrupted to tell us that President Obama had breaking news on America's national security. Minutes later, CNN was reporting: "Osama Bin Laden is dead."
Sunday morning, the only mass I was able to make was in Friendswood, not my frist choice, but the only choice I had since it was the last English mass in my area before the evening masses started. The Homily of course, was about Pope John Paul. He was beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday, a very special day for him and for all Catholics who are aware of recent history. St. Faustina is responsible for the Divine Mercy devotion and Pope John Paul was the Pope who canonized her and made her a saint. So, it is very fitting that his beatification (the 2nd step to becoming a saint) happened the second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.
The priest, Father Benny, opened up with the story of a picture in Time magazine of Pope John Paul speaking to his attempted assassinator. In 1981, the Pope was shot 4 times at St. Peter's Square in Rome amongst thousands of people as he was blessing them. Years later, the Pope visited his shooter in jail, spoke with him and forgave him. Father Benny connected the Pope's mercy with the intentions and meanings of the "Divine Mercy."
Mercy is defined by Webster's Dictionary as: compassion or forbearance shown to an offender or subject; clemency or kindness extended to someone instead of strictness or severity.
Despite the fact that Pope John Paul nearly died from one man's acts, he was able to forgive him. He even faced his shooter and forgave him personally. What a beautiful story. Of course, instinct would have us ask, "Why would he do that?" The Pontiff, speaking to children at a Rome parish on Oct. 10, 1999, said the teachings of Christ instructed him to forgive Agca.
Forgiveness, an act of love that we all seem to struggle with. Pope John's Mercy towards his shooter is the perfect example of God's Mercy towards us. If God can forgive us and show mercy to us, then why can't we do it to one another?
So we come to today's "breaking news." I find it ironic that Bin Laden's death occurred on the exact day of Pope John Paul's beatification, Divine Mercy Sunday. Is God sending us a message? Is He asking this country to learn how to forgive and show mercy? Bin Laden's ruthless and murderous acts upon the United States and the rest of the world are horrific, yet how can we truly forgive someone like him? If anytime Pope John Paul is needed, it is now. It scares me to see people praise a person's death. Even if he is a cruel and evil person, he was still one of God's children. I am in no way in support of Bin Laden, but justifying his death and finding joy in it, just goes to show you how much prayer this county needs! This country doesn't get it. I really don't know how to explain how I feel, but as relieved as I am to know that the leader of Al Queda has been taken down, it scares me to see how joyous everyone is about it.
God bless us all, especially the troops who are still over there away from their loved ones.
Sunday morning, the only mass I was able to make was in Friendswood, not my frist choice, but the only choice I had since it was the last English mass in my area before the evening masses started. The Homily of course, was about Pope John Paul. He was beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday, a very special day for him and for all Catholics who are aware of recent history. St. Faustina is responsible for the Divine Mercy devotion and Pope John Paul was the Pope who canonized her and made her a saint. So, it is very fitting that his beatification (the 2nd step to becoming a saint) happened the second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.
The priest, Father Benny, opened up with the story of a picture in Time magazine of Pope John Paul speaking to his attempted assassinator. In 1981, the Pope was shot 4 times at St. Peter's Square in Rome amongst thousands of people as he was blessing them. Years later, the Pope visited his shooter in jail, spoke with him and forgave him. Father Benny connected the Pope's mercy with the intentions and meanings of the "Divine Mercy."
Mercy is defined by Webster's Dictionary as: compassion or forbearance shown to an offender or subject; clemency or kindness extended to someone instead of strictness or severity.
Despite the fact that Pope John Paul nearly died from one man's acts, he was able to forgive him. He even faced his shooter and forgave him personally. What a beautiful story. Of course, instinct would have us ask, "Why would he do that?" The Pontiff, speaking to children at a Rome parish on Oct. 10, 1999, said the teachings of Christ instructed him to forgive Agca.
Forgiveness, an act of love that we all seem to struggle with. Pope John's Mercy towards his shooter is the perfect example of God's Mercy towards us. If God can forgive us and show mercy to us, then why can't we do it to one another?
So we come to today's "breaking news." I find it ironic that Bin Laden's death occurred on the exact day of Pope John Paul's beatification, Divine Mercy Sunday. Is God sending us a message? Is He asking this country to learn how to forgive and show mercy? Bin Laden's ruthless and murderous acts upon the United States and the rest of the world are horrific, yet how can we truly forgive someone like him? If anytime Pope John Paul is needed, it is now. It scares me to see people praise a person's death. Even if he is a cruel and evil person, he was still one of God's children. I am in no way in support of Bin Laden, but justifying his death and finding joy in it, just goes to show you how much prayer this county needs! This country doesn't get it. I really don't know how to explain how I feel, but as relieved as I am to know that the leader of Al Queda has been taken down, it scares me to see how joyous everyone is about it.
God bless us all, especially the troops who are still over there away from their loved ones.
