Growth

A Reflection on the First Reading for April 16, 2023:
Divine Mercy Sunday

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Acts
​2.42-47

They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the Apostles.

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread in various houses and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

I clean the jar. I wet the paper towel and carefully adhere it to the inner wall of the glass. I tuck the seeds down the sides, sandwiching them between the walls of reworked wood pulp and melted sand. I find the jar a good place in the light, and leave. I visit over the next few days with rain in my spray bottle, but I don’t make the bean burst open to life. I may set the stage for growth, but something else makes it happen.

I clean.
I wet.
I tuck.
I find.
I leave.
I visit.

Something else makes.

How do we grow mercy? Grow Divine Mercy?

The first time I prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet I was crushed with the overwhelming desire God has for everyone to come. To come home. To Him. Just catching the barest tangential glance of the edge of His sorrow for those who are lost, who aren’t home, was too much for me. If He desires this so much, what is He waiting for? He’s waiting for the barest crack of a door opening.

“All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary; that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest.” — St. Faustina

We don’t make Divine Mercy happen. He does.

We prepare the way, and He comes. We nurture the conditions for life, digging a furrow, and He pours out Divine Mercy through the channels we’ve made. We create an environment that fosters opening doors.

See how it happened before?

They devoted themselves.
They were filled with awe.
They were together.
They would sell their possessions.
They would distribute to all in need
They spent much time together.
They broke bread.
They ate together with glad and generous hearts.

The Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved.

Our God is a community — the Trinity — calling others to come join the party. As we reflect this one-for-another-ness, people can see Him. As I devote myself to you, and you to me, and all of us to Him, His Divine Mercy is reflected off us onto the people He longs for. Feeling the warmth of that Light, they can open the door to see Who is knocking.



Noreen Smith

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