Pointing to the AMAZING, HUGE painting of Jesus Divine Mercy just given to us by the family of the artist Orlando Lagman, I asked one of our young children last Sunday, what do the two large streams of WATER and BLOOD coming out of the PIERCED HEART OF JESUS represent? He did not hesitate, WATER represents BAPTISM AND CONFESSION; BLOOD represents the EUCHARIST! I gave him an A+! He was right on the mark! He is a pious child. He loves to come to church. He loves to read the Bible. He may be a future priest! I wish we could clone him and have many, many children like him! I hope that like this child we can always remember that JESUS DIVINE MERCY keeps pouring upon us these two large streams of GRACE which we can receive frequently, the WATER OF RECONCILIATION which cleanses our sins in CONFESSION and the FLOW OF BLOOD, the EUCHARIST which we can receive at every Mass. It is a simple two-step approach: first, whenever we commit a major sin, we go to the priest in confession to receive the ABSOLUTION, allowing the second step, receiving the EUCHARIST in state of grace!

We just celebrated a most joyful DIVINE MERCY Sunday. We were blessed to be able to admire this HUMONGOUS painting of JESUS DIVINE MERCY (11 feet tall and 5 feet wide), which we displayed for the first time in our church. The artist Orlando Lagman had already painted for us the beautiful image of Our Lady Help of Christians. He finished this "humongous" painting just a few months before he was called back HOME by the Lord last year. We could say that this was his last masterpiece. He loved JESUS DIVINE MERCY and he wanted many people to be able to be touched by Saint Faustina' s beautiful vision of DIVINE MERCY: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!

"O BLOOD AND WATER which gushed forth from the HEART OF JESUS as a FOUNT OF MERCY for us, I TRUST IN YOU". Just repeat these words three times as we do at the beginning of reciting the Divine Mercy Chaplet. As you repeat these words heard by Saint Faustina, feel the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT coming down into your own minds and your hearts. JESUS is inviting YOU to come to the Sacrament of RECONCILIATION! Yes, HE is waiting for you. Remember how Jesus established this amazing Sacrament of Penance, which we simply call CONFESSION. HE BREATHED on HIS disciples and said, "RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. Whose sins you FORGIVE are forgiven, and whose sins you retain are retained" (John 20:22-23).

On Divine Mercy Sunday, I heard confessions for about four hours. In the confessional, I reminded people that the priest represents the PERSON OF CHRIST (Persona Christi) in each sacrament, including the sacrament of Reconciliation. This is the Sunday when we all heard the Risen Lord meet his disciples locked in the upper room because of their fear of the Jews (John 20:19-31) and tell them, " PEACE BE WITH YOU". Jesus wants for all of us PEACE (SHALOM in Hebrew). We too want PEACE. Nobody wants to feel anxious, angry, torn apart. We all want that Peace that only Jesus can give us. JESUS LOVES each of us INFINITELY, 

UNCONDITIONALLY. HIS MERCIFUL LOVE (HESED in Hebrew) is greater than we can ever imagine, bigger than the 11-foot-tall painting. JESUS is inviting all of us to RECONCILE with HIM before we come and receive HIM in the EUCHARIST. Can you refuse HIS invitation? Whenever we come to MASS, we have an APPOINTMENT with Jesus! HE IS COMING at every Mass. Whenever we come to CONFESSION, we have an APPOINTMENT with JESUS! We cannot refuse HIS invitation. If there is one sin that you have never mentioned in earlier confessions because of your shame, JESUS is inviting you to come and obtain HIS forgiveness. COME TO JESUS and HE will take away the heaven burden of that sin!

JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU! JESUS, FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR SORROWFUL PASSION, HAVE MERCY ON US AND ON THE WHOLE WORLD!

One in Christ,

Father Alain