Everyone, Everyone, Everyone!
Divine Mercy Sunday
April 27, 2025
“But the LORD answered me: Say not, ‘I am too young.’ To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you.” -Jeremiah 1:7-8
As we continue the Easter Season of this Jubilee Year of Hope, this weekend we celebrate the Jubilee of Teenagers. Teenage youth are often called the “future” of the church. In one sense, that is so. However, after Confirmation and First Communion have been received, our teenagers are fully initiated Catholics who have been sacramentally graced by God to continue Christ’s mission of reconciliation and evangelization in our world. They are fully part of the Church and its mission now. I am so proud of the work done by Kathy Russell, our Director of Youth Ministry, and of all of the Midland area youth ministers (both volunteer and parish staff) helping our young people grow into the “full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13) One of the things that I love most about the Assumption Parish community is seeing the participation of our teenage parishioners, especially in liturgical, musical, and service ministries. Most of all, I am proud of our teenage parishioners. They are an example to all of us on how to energetically share our gifts and talents for the building up of the Body of Christ and of all of human society! Some of our high school youth are participating in the “Youth 2 Youth” Retreat this weekend. Let us all pray that they grow in friendship with Jesus this weekend, so that they can discern where God is calling them to best use their gifts to make our world a better place for everyone.
“Truly you have formed me in my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks for I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” -Psalm 139:13-14
Also, this Monday through Wednesday we celebrate the Jubilee of People with Disabilities. We love our sports. We love to see athletes pushing themselves and their bodies to overcome obstacles to compete at the highest level. We sit in the stands or tune in on TV to see someone achieve something that no one has ever done before. This past summer, our parish friend and volunteer Doug Dean invited me to Miracle Field here in Midland to watch an adaptive baseball game on a Saturday morning. I had so much fun watching the athletes, with their diverse abilities and disabilities, enjoying the opportunity to engage in sports, in its competitive spirit and in its camaraderie of teamwork. It was a truly exceptional sports experience, inclusive of the unique abilities and dignity of all. People with disabilities: temporary, acquired, or permanent are a gift and blessing to everyone. They are special witnesses to the truth that the wonder of being human is not primarily about what we do, but what we are: the image of God, created to be loved and to love. We are all on this Earth to compassionately serve each other. People with disabilities force everyone to slow down and care for each other in love. This is not always easy, especially for caregivers. God continues to bless our parish community and Midland area community with people with various disabilities and their caregivers and supporters so that everyone can grow in humanity, compassion and unconditional love. We are thankful for each and every person in our community, especially persons with disabilities!
“The Church does not exist to condemn people but to bring about an encounter with the visceral love of God’s mercy.” -Pope Francis, The Name of God is Mercy
Finally, today is Divine Mercy Sunday. We mark this day with sad but hopeful hearts since we are both celebrating the end of the Easter Octave and the continuation of the Easter Season while at the same time observing nine days of mourning for the death of Pope Francis. One thing that we know for certain is that Pope Francis put all his faith and hope in Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection which brings us mercy, the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of eternal life. He wrote a book entitled, The Name of God is Mercy. May we be inspired to keep his spirit alive in our parish and in the worldwide Church through a renewed commitment to let Jesus encounter us with his unconditional, merciful love in a deep, personal friendship; through furthering Pope Francis’ commitment to humility and service, compassionately caring for the poor, the immigrants and refugees, the forgotten and marginalized, and vulnerable people; through heeding his heartfelt call to steward and care for all of God’s creation, our common home; and through living in solidarity and communion with all people, not putting up walls but building bridges of dialogue and understanding. The final words of Pope Francis’ last will and testament read, “the suffering that marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.” May we take up the challenge of this final gift from our Holy Father, rejecting the polarization and division that underlies the violence and hatred in our world and building a world where “todos, todos, todos” (“everyone, everyone, everyone”) can live together in dignity, justice, peace, and mutual love with God and each other.