This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Two things to rejoice into today.  It was 31 years ago that my wife and I brought into this world our first child – Grace Anna – needless to say, it has been a wild ride since then.  Happy birthday to my oldest child Grace.  The second thing to rejoice about, which I have had the privilege of doing every day of my life so far, is that I’m still looking at the top side of the grass (as apposed to the roots).  Today is going to be a beautiful day and I plan on getting outside and soaking up as much of this weather as I can.  Today’s Gospel acclamation should be another mantra we repeat every morning when we wake up.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Even more good news comes to all of you believers this weekend.  It is Divine Mercy Sunday.  This is a day that we can all come together (virtually and 6-ft apart) to ask for God’s forgiveness and receive His Divine Mercy.  Tomorrow we will read in the Gospel Jesus’ blessing for all ages…”You believed in Me Thomas because you have seen Me; blessed are those who haven’t seen Me but still believe.”  That is you, that is me, that is every Christian in this world.  We are blessed because of our faith.  This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

But how many of Christians can say that we haven’t seen Christ?  Not me – I see Him all around me.  I see Him in my wife Sarah, my eight children (Grace, Jerome, Cecilia, Richard, Mary, Ruth, Tony and Teresa); I see them in my children’s spouses (Chris, Megan, Garrett and Megan); I see them in my grandchildren (Aiden, Logan, Audrey, Jerome, Nicholas and Baby  Tripp (coming in August)), I see them in my siblings and in-laws; friends; nature.  The “breastplate” of St. Patrick best sums this up…

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism,
through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial,
through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.
I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim
in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels,
in hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets,
in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors,
in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through the strength of Heaven:
light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire,
speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,
stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.
I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me:
against snares of devils, against temptations of vices,
against inclinations of nature, against everyone who
shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils):
against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul, against incantations of false prophets,
against black laws of heathenry,
against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry,
against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
against every knowledge that endangers man’s body and soul.
Christ to protect me today
against poison, against burning,
against drowning, against wounding,
so that there may come abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

Do something great for our Lord today – know that this is the day the Lord has made – rejoice and be glad in it.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.  Compete well for the faith.

Eternal God, in Whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion – inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us so that in difficult moments, we may not despair nor become despondent but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.