Psalm Reflection: The Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday - Cycle A

“Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his love is everlasting.” - Psalm 118

Arthur Slugworth.

If you remember the story, he is the one who approaches the five children who found the golden tickets to enter Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, and he promises them a large sum of money to steal Wonka’s latest confectionary invention: the everlasting Gobstopper.

What a wild and incredible invention! No one will need to purchase more than one in their entire lifetime and it will last forever, always retaining its flavor. There is no financial or economic benefit to Willy Wonka for creating it, and yet he did out of love for what he does.

And what is the response he faces? Not wonder or appreciation, but greed. The children try to take advantage of their opportunity to get rich. Slugworth wants to steal it and use it for his own purposes. He wants the glory.

Do you? Do you seek your own glory more than the Lord’s?

God’s love for you is everlasting.

He does not need us, and yet He created us out of love and for love.

When we rejected His gift of love for selfishness and sin, He still chose to love us without condition.

He loves us so much, that He became one of us to eradicate the problem of sin once and for all.

We can all experience the everlasting love of God.

How do we respond? Often, we take God’s love for granted. Scripture commands us to do many things that we neglect or fail to prioritize:

to pray (Matthew 6:5-15, Thessalonians 5:16-18)

to go to Mass and fully participate (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

to forgive others (Matthew 18:21-22)

to give to the poor (Matthew 25:31-46)

to evangelize (Matthew 28:19-20)

We are like an unfaithful spouse who only comes home when they feel lonely or need something. Instead of asking how we can give, sacrifice, and devote ourselves to God who loves us unconditionally, we keep our focus on our own wants and all the ways we are dissatisfied. 

If all of your prayers were answered, would anyone’s life change but yours?

The psalm this Sunday calls us to give thanks and remember that God is good. His love for us is unending and without condition. 

You do not need to change for God to love you, but God’s love will change you.

Do not take it for granted. Rather, let the love of God transform your heart, your mind and your entire life this Easter season. Let God’s everlasting love for you overflow in Easter joy.

This week, only pray for the needs of others, and for the grace to be more faithful to God and those around you. Fast from complaining. Try to affirm someone or do one act of serve every day without someone noticing and without the need for reciprocation or acknowledgement. See how it transforms your heart and your perspective.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist!

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, April 16th, 2023, which is The Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday - Cycle A:

Psalms 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24