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

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

Can you always confidently say that God is good?

Do refugees fleeing for their lives think God is good?

Do we look at a terminal diagnosis and think that God is good?

Do people who lose their spouse, child or best friend think that God is good?

When we get fired, get in a car accident, lose something precious to us, fail a test, miss out on an opportunity, or our plans fall apart, do we think God is good then?

Some very holy people can hold onto that truth even in the midst of incredible darkness and suffering, but I am not one of them. For most of us, we have times of doubt, anger and bitterness toward God. It is hard not to focus on the negative when it is right in front of us, and miss all of the good and beautiful things God does for us on a daily basis.

I think part of the problem is that we live with a very comfort-oriented and entitled worldview. We think we deserve good things and when they do not happen we are thrown for a loop. But that is not the truth.

The only place where everything was meant to go right all the time and be perfect was the Garden of Eden. That perfection promised to us was never fully realized, because instead of using their free will to embrace the gift of God’s love and trust in Him, Adam and Eve chose themselves and got kicked out of the Garden. The perfection we were promised and created for, the perfection our hearts still long for, will now never be realized on earth until the end of time.

Life outside of Eden sucks. There is death, suffering, pain, loss, grief, labor, worry, anxiety, depression, selfishness and sin. This is the life we should be expecting on a daily basis because it is the natural result of saying “no” to God and his goodness. This is not because He seeks to punish us, but because He is a parent who loves His children enough to not force them to do what He wants them to do, but instead lets them experience the consequences, though He is still there to help when we ask. 

The fact that we do not experience terrible awful days every single day is evidence of the fact that God is truly good. Despite the fact that we deserve His justice, He mercifully and abundantly continues to pour out His love upon all of us, even when He knows it will not be reciprocated or even acknowledged. That is why God is so good. He continues to love us, continues to have patience with us, and constantly calls us back to the life we were created for.

He even went so far as becoming one of us to learn the human experience on this side of Eden. Not only that, He willingly died for everything that led us here, and provided a way out that leads back to eternal union with Him in the Garden of Heaven. And He did it for EVERYONE, believers and atheists, saints and sinners, every single person that has or will ever exist. That is real, selfless, and sacrificial love. That is why Divine Mercy is celebrated every second Sunday of Easter, because it is a big deal. It radically impacts every single one of us in ways we do not deserve.

The beauty of the Easter season is that we are reminded not only of Jesus’ resurrection, but also that His rising is a promise to us that we will rise with Him and everything will be made whole, right, good, true and beautiful again.

When you have a bad day, recognize that is to be expected on this side of Eden. But every single breath you take, every single beat your heart continues to make, every smile, laugh, good feeling, happy tear, and moment of authentic love is a gift from a Father in Heaven who loves you individually in a unique, unrepeatable and radically abundant way. 

This week, do not count or focus on the negative things. Instead, make a list of every single good thing and experience you have. Offer prayers of thanksgiving and praise for each one, because we do not deserve them and they should not be expected outside of the garden, but we have a God who loves us so much He continues to give them, even when we do not notice, care, thank Him, or when we still focus on the one thing going wrong and neglect the countless other blessings in our lives. It might be time for us to change our perspective.

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

Matt