The Day That the Lord Has Made

​A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, April 7th, 2024:
Divine Mercy Sunday

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Psalm 118

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.
or 
R. Alleluia!

Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.
or 
R. Alleluia!

“The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.” I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death. 

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.
or 
R. Alleluia!

The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.
or 
R. Alleluia!

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

​​When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day from the Good Friday, He established the first Easter Sunday as the Lord’s Day. Every subsequent Sunday, for the last nearly 2000 years, commemorates the day of the Lord. It is no longer just another day that happens to follow the Sabbath, but a day of hope and salvation that mimics Resurrection Sunday.

In 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina Kowalska and instituted the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday, which happens to be our upcoming Sunday, April 7, 2024. Isn’t it beautiful that the Sunday after Easter is designated as Divine Mercy Sunday? After all, Jesus rose from the dead to conquer evil and sin and to shower His Divine Mercy on each and every one of us – saint or sinner, rich or poor, Christian or non-Christian.

Our psalm for this Sunday, Psalm 118, is a liturgical hymn of thanksgiving. Upon receiving God’s undeserved mercy, what can we as a human race do but be thankful? God’s love is “steadfast” and it “endures forever.” Jesus endured the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, He bore the scourging at the pillar, He experienced the crowning with thorns, He persisted in carrying the heavy cross, and He suffered a disgraceful and horrific death through the crucifixion. And He did this all for me. He did it all for you. God has been steadfast in the mercy and love He has shown us by dying for us in our sin.

And, due to the hope of Easter, we know that we “shall not die, but [we] shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord,” just like Psalm 118 highlights. Because of the pain and sorrow of Good Friday we can rely on the mercy and hope of the Lord’s Day. 

Lord Jesus, help me never to doubt that you are always by my side. And help me to keep sacred every Sunday, which is the Lord’s Day. Thank You for all that You have given me in Your steadfast love. Help me never to take Your Divine Mercy for granted. Amen.




Rebecca D'mello

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