Divine Mercy or Low Sunday? Either Way, Let's Start the Week Off Right.
The Church's new calendar now calls this Sunday "Divine Mercy Sunday." The traditional calendar names it "Low Sunday." Take your pick. Either way, let's see what we can learn from either to start this week off right. Maybe we can grab a "boost" as we begin the new week.
I don't know about you, but I could use a boost at times during this Coronavirus mess. Our "C-virus World" (as I've taken to calling it) has taken a toll. Anything that injects a hopeful note or uncovers a bright spot is most welcome. "Divine Mercy" comes to mind right now. It's both awesome and comforting.
Imagine the Creator of the Universe, God Almighty, condescending to live amongst us. Consider that He not only became one of us, but that He suffered and died for us - just so we could live with Him in complete and utter joy and happiness for eternity.
Did we deserve this treatment? Well, you decide. I know my answer. It springs from all those examinations of conscience, all those confessions I've made over the years. The content thereof says it all. It speaks for itself.
And yet, my Faith teaches me that God Almighty chooses to love me in spite of my unfaithfulness, my self-centeredness. While His Justice may appear daunting at times, His very Nature balances that Justice with Mercy. It's a balance that, when you think about it, makes no sense - at least not in typical human terms. Frankly, if I were offended, insulted, ignored, even hated by not only my neighbors, but my own family and friends, I'd have the hardest time responding with love and mercy. And yet our God does so respond, freely and generously, over and over again.
Such freely given Mercy in the face of our sins and failings certainly injects a hopeful not and bright spot into this messy C-virus World of ours.
Moving on to Low Sunday, let's clarify the use of "Low" here. It's meant to present a contrast to the inestimable glory of Easter Sunday. Only in the light of that infinite, overwhelming glory can we call a Sunday "Low." But it takes on a new meaning in our current circumstances.
Not only can social distancing cut us off from loved ones, but the mere effort many of us have to put in simply shopping for necessities can be an awfully draining experience. Not only do we have to take precautions in the form of masks and gloves when we shop, but we sometimes have had to wait on long lines to get into a store only to find a list of items we need currently unavailable, followed by the whole disinfecting protocol when we finally make it home.
Add in: the anxiety that accompanies being unemployed or furloughed from our jobs - despite government assistance programs; concern with family and friends who may be in those "compromised" categories, or even with those who aren't physically compromised, but have to continue to work at what are "essential" jobs. A simple personal example: one of our sons is a police officer.
It's weighty stuff, to say the least. And the weight can be quite oppressive at times. It can, indeed, make us feel "low." Just as Low Sunday contrasts with it's glorious Easter cousin, so to can our current circumstances contrast with our lives before the C-virus invaded our world.
In the face of all this, perhaps we can remind ourselves that this Low Sunday has also been called "in albis": It refers to the white gowns the newly baptized would wear in the early Church from Easter Sunday through the whole of Easter Week. I would imagine taking the gowns off and returning to "normal" life might have been somewhat of a letdown. But that's just a guess.
However and whatever you're feeling on this Divine Mercy or Low Sunday, it's still Easter Season and will be for a full 40 days. Let's hope our C-virus World ends before those full 40 days. But whatever our fate, Easter remains and will remain our most glorious and Holy Season. Whatever our personal circumstances in this current mess, we can raise our gaze towards that glory. Not only can we gaze upon it, but we can yearn for it. And with the virtue of Hope we can seek to join the glory of the angels and saints - some of whom will likely be our beloved family and friends - in that state of eternal happiness Our Lord assured us by His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
These aren't just words. They describe reality - the ultimate reality. What's surrounding us now - annoying and difficult as it might be - is a mere shadow, a second-rate side-show that can hold our full attention only if we let it. With God's grace, during this glorious Easter Season, we can free our minds and hearts from our tawdry life in this Vale of Tears, and look to the Big Show - a better and greater - actually the best and greatest - life to come.
I don't know about you, but I could use a boost at times during this Coronavirus mess. Our "C-virus World" (as I've taken to calling it) has taken a toll. Anything that injects a hopeful note or uncovers a bright spot is most welcome. "Divine Mercy" comes to mind right now. It's both awesome and comforting.
Imagine the Creator of the Universe, God Almighty, condescending to live amongst us. Consider that He not only became one of us, but that He suffered and died for us - just so we could live with Him in complete and utter joy and happiness for eternity.
Did we deserve this treatment? Well, you decide. I know my answer. It springs from all those examinations of conscience, all those confessions I've made over the years. The content thereof says it all. It speaks for itself.
And yet, my Faith teaches me that God Almighty chooses to love me in spite of my unfaithfulness, my self-centeredness. While His Justice may appear daunting at times, His very Nature balances that Justice with Mercy. It's a balance that, when you think about it, makes no sense - at least not in typical human terms. Frankly, if I were offended, insulted, ignored, even hated by not only my neighbors, but my own family and friends, I'd have the hardest time responding with love and mercy. And yet our God does so respond, freely and generously, over and over again.
Such freely given Mercy in the face of our sins and failings certainly injects a hopeful not and bright spot into this messy C-virus World of ours.
Moving on to Low Sunday, let's clarify the use of "Low" here. It's meant to present a contrast to the inestimable glory of Easter Sunday. Only in the light of that infinite, overwhelming glory can we call a Sunday "Low." But it takes on a new meaning in our current circumstances.
Not only can social distancing cut us off from loved ones, but the mere effort many of us have to put in simply shopping for necessities can be an awfully draining experience. Not only do we have to take precautions in the form of masks and gloves when we shop, but we sometimes have had to wait on long lines to get into a store only to find a list of items we need currently unavailable, followed by the whole disinfecting protocol when we finally make it home.
Add in: the anxiety that accompanies being unemployed or furloughed from our jobs - despite government assistance programs; concern with family and friends who may be in those "compromised" categories, or even with those who aren't physically compromised, but have to continue to work at what are "essential" jobs. A simple personal example: one of our sons is a police officer.
It's weighty stuff, to say the least. And the weight can be quite oppressive at times. It can, indeed, make us feel "low." Just as Low Sunday contrasts with it's glorious Easter cousin, so to can our current circumstances contrast with our lives before the C-virus invaded our world.
In the face of all this, perhaps we can remind ourselves that this Low Sunday has also been called "in albis": It refers to the white gowns the newly baptized would wear in the early Church from Easter Sunday through the whole of Easter Week. I would imagine taking the gowns off and returning to "normal" life might have been somewhat of a letdown. But that's just a guess.
However and whatever you're feeling on this Divine Mercy or Low Sunday, it's still Easter Season and will be for a full 40 days. Let's hope our C-virus World ends before those full 40 days. But whatever our fate, Easter remains and will remain our most glorious and Holy Season. Whatever our personal circumstances in this current mess, we can raise our gaze towards that glory. Not only can we gaze upon it, but we can yearn for it. And with the virtue of Hope we can seek to join the glory of the angels and saints - some of whom will likely be our beloved family and friends - in that state of eternal happiness Our Lord assured us by His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
These aren't just words. They describe reality - the ultimate reality. What's surrounding us now - annoying and difficult as it might be - is a mere shadow, a second-rate side-show that can hold our full attention only if we let it. With God's grace, during this glorious Easter Season, we can free our minds and hearts from our tawdry life in this Vale of Tears, and look to the Big Show - a better and greater - actually the best and greatest - life to come.
Happy Easter!
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