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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s start with a warm-up exercise. First, take both your hands and clench them into fists squeezing them as tightly as you can, and hold this for about a minute until I invite you to release your clenched fists later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While we are holding this, let me tell you about a quick conversation I had with my wife, Julie, Friday night. On Friday night, I asked my wife \u201cdo you have any words of wisdom for a guy who\u2019s not sure what to preach on this weekend?\u201d Her response was this: \u201csorry.\u201d Those of you who wonder what kind of riveting pillow talk a Deacon has with his wife, well, there you have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry.\u201d That\u2019s not a bad start since this is Divine Mercy Sunday. Now, I could give all kinds of fancy theological explanations for mercy and nice quotes from the saints about forgiveness, but \u201csorry,\u201d it really is as simple and as hard as that. For those of us who have a strained relationship with someone, say \u201csorry\u201d and make Christ\u2019s divine mercy known to them through you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And since we cannot give to others that which we have not first received ourselves, for those who haven\u2019t been to confession in a while, I know a guy who can help with that. See Fr. Jeremy, go to confession and say sorry to Jesus for your sins. Experience the gift of this sacrament Jesus gave to us in today\u2019s Gospel reading. His divine mercy is truly amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus wants to share his divine mercy with us by playing a game of mercy football with all of us. It\u2019s hard for us to catch or receive the mercy football Jesus is trying to pass onto us when our souls are closed off like our hands are now and it\u2019s certainly hard for us to do a good job of passing this mercy football onto others when our souls are closed off like our hands are now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So whatever the spiritual baggage is that we\u2019ve been holding onto, I invite you to let it go as we release our clenched fists. Now, doesn\u2019t that feel good? Experiencing Jesus\u2019 divine mercy and forgiveness and sharing it with others is even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I read about an experiment that showed clenching your fist for 90 seconds like we just did helps with both forming a memory and later recalling that memory. So, this week, clench your fist to remind yourself that the goal of playing mercy football is to open yourself up to receive the mercy football and then to pass it onto others. If you take the time you would have spent listening to a longer homily today and remember to say sorry to Jesus and\/or someone else this week, then this may very well be my most effective and shortest homily yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And for those of you who like longer homilies, well, all I can say is \u201csorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2nd Sunday of Easter Sunday of Divine Mercy Cycle B \u2013 April 11, 2021<\/strong> Let\u2019s start with a warm-up exercise. First, take both your hands and clench them into fists squeezing them as tightly as you can, and hold this for about a minute until I invite you to release your clenched fists later. While we are holding this, let me tell you about a quick conversation I had … <\/p>\n
Mass Readings:<\/em>
Reading 1:\u00a0<\/em>Acts 4:32-35<\/a>
Psalm:<\/em>\u00a0118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24<\/a>
Reading 2:\u00a0<\/em>1 Jn 5:1-6<\/a>
Gospel:\u00a0<\/em>Jn 20:19-31<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"