Divine Mercy means becoming God’s merciful presence to others

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

Divine Mercy is not a set of rituals or rules, but a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, according to Chaguanas parish priest Fr Steve Ransome, who delivered a pointed message to the faithful on Divine Mercy Sunday.

“Brothers and sisters, when we talk about God’s divine mercy, we are talking about His mercy made manifest… the very sacrament of God’s mercy is Jesus Christ,” he said.

Addressing a congregation gathered at the Divine Mercy Shrine, La Vega Estate, Gran Couva, Fr Ransome stressed that the significance of the day goes beyond traditional devotions.

“…the divine mercy of God is not something mechanical: three Hail Marys, go to Confession and make sure you get the day right. It’s a person.”

He also emphasised that divine mercy must go beyond simply receiving from God. “In so far as I receive the mercy of God, I become God’s merciful presence to other people.”

Drawing on Scripture, Fr Ransome referenced John 20, where Jesus appears to the disciples despite locked doors. He then used the image of doors to illustrate how human actions can either lead to or block an encounter with God.

“We like to build things, and that is precisely why people believe religion is manmade,” he said. “We have all kinds of things… that should point to the divine but very often pointing to we self.”

He acknowledged that elements of Church practice are human in origin, pointing to his vestments as an example. “You see this piece of cloth, it’s called a chasuble… I promise you… Jesus didn’t come down from Heaven and say, ‘you must use a chasuble’. No, it’s manmade,” he said. “But also, it should point to something divine,” he emphasised.

Fr Ransome warned that such “manmade” structures can sometimes become barriers rather than pathways to faith.

Despite human limitations, Fr Ransome emphasised that God’s power cannot be confined. “Men does close doors and men does build doors. God does walk through doors,” he said.

He said this reality is at the heart of Divine Mercy Sunday, rooted in Christ’s Resurrection and the new life it brings.

“If it were manmade, we would stay at the sabbath being the last day of the week… Saturday…but we realise… God said no… new life….I would rise on the first day of the week. No man can do that, that had to come from God,” he said.

Reflecting on the Gospel, Fr Ransome noted that Jesus offered mercy even to those who had failed Him. “He came to these men who did not deserve mercy… they rejected Him… and yet… He comes in the middle of them,” Fr Ransome said.

He added that Christ’s message remains one of peace and transformation. “He breathed the breath of the Holy Spirit… saying peace be with you,” he said.

Fr Ransome said this encounter reveals the true meaning of divine mercy: not just as something received, but something lived.

“Jesus not only offers peace, He not only makes Himself present but Jesus does something more, He reveals Himself to the people. The reason why we can have Divine Mercy Sunday is that Jesus revealed and will always reveal Himself to us….”