This weekend is a healing weekend. I came to church needing Divine Mercy, and my whole experience was one of healing:

1. Reconciliation - There is no substitute for this Sacrament. I am convinced.

2. Readings - All about a new beginning, a new life in Christ:

Thus says the Lord GOD:
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
[...]
I will put my spirit in you that you may live…

How beautiful, that God would call us His own. This prophecy foretells the resurrection of the dead, both spiritually and physically. “With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.” (Psalm 130) God knew just what I needed to hear in order to restore and heal me. It was comforting to repeat this line over and again. Then the reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans, arguably the foremost letter when speaking about morality issues, was a reminder for me that although my flesh is weak, God’s own spirit will strengthen me to live as a follower of Christ. The power of grace is evident here — sharing in God’s own life.

Finally, the Gospel speaks of Christ’s humanity: His pity for the people, His tears for His dead friend. But we also see Christ’s divinity, as He raises Lazarus’ dead body to life. (Sidenote: Don’t we see both the humanity and divinity of Christ in every gospel story?)
3. Eucharistic Presence - After receiving the LORD, I tried to listen to His voice. It’s been a while since I’ve made an effort to be still and listen. He said, Come to me, Angela. See how much I love you. I am here. I am here with you now. I have forgiven you. I have freed you.

I know that you have fallen down, but look — I have picked you up again! I am holding your hand. Even when you fall, I am holding your hand. I never leave you.

Though we fall, though we fail to love God with all that we are, we must kneel before the Lord, beg His forgiveness, and let Him lift us back on our feet, with His Spirit in our souls and His True Presence as our strength. Every time I fail, I see how great the Lord’s plan is for me, and how foolish it is to do anything besides what the Lord wants of us.