Divine Mercy: The Love Language of God

Transcript from Fr Justin's Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday on the April 27, 2025.

I want to ask you a personal question:

How many people have you said, "I forgive you," to in your life?

How many people have you asked forgiveness from—for something you have done?

How many times have you asked the Lord for His mercy?

We all experience love in different ways.

Some people really feel loved when they receive presents. If you give them a gift, it lights them up inside. Others don’t experience love that way. For example, if you give my dad a gift, he’ll say, “Oh, okay, thank you,” but it doesn’t hit him deeply. He experiences love in other ways.

There was a famous doctor, Gary Chapman, who wrote a book that has helped people all around the world express and receive love more effectively—in families, marriages, and relationships.

The book is called The Five Love Languages.

In it, Dr. Chapman explains that there are five main ways people give and receive love:

1. Words of affirmation

2. Quality time

3. Acts of service

4. Physical touch

5. Receiving gifts

We all have a preferred way of receiving and expressing love.

Let me ask you:

What’s your love language? How do you feel most loved? How do you express love?

Now let’s take this a step further:

What is God the Father’s love language in the Bible?

I love what Pope Francis once said. He has often been called the Pope of Mercy. He initiated the Year of Mercy and wrote beautifully on the topic. In one of his letters, he wrote:

"Forgiveness is the most visible sign of the Father's love, which Jesus sought to reveal by His entire life. Every page of the Gospel is marked by this imperative of a love that forgives."

Jesus wasn’t nailed to the Cross by hate, but by the great love of God, expressed in mercy.

So ask yourself:

Did Jesus condemn or punish people?

To understand the mercy of Jesus, we need to look at His heart. That heart was revealed when God came in the flesh—when Jesus walked among us. For the first time, people could talk to God, eat with Him, ask Him questions. This was the fullness of revelation.

And what did He reveal?

He revealed that God is merciful.

Let’s look at some stories:

1. The Woman Caught in Adultery in John 8:2–11, a woman is caught in the act of adultery—how humiliating. The crowd wants Jesus to condemn her. But He doesn’t. He writes in the sand. One by one, the accusers leave. And Jesus says:

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”“No one, sir,” she replies.“Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and sin no more.”

2. The Sinful Woman Who Anoints Jesus’ Feet in Luke 7:36–50, a woman known to be a sinner weeps at Jesus' feet, kissing them, pouring ointment over them. Others are shocked. But Jesus says:

“Her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Through these encounters, we see Jesus doesn’t condemn. He shows mercy—and those who receive it love deeply in return.

3. The Prodigal SonIn that well-known parable, the father doesn’t punish the returning son. He runs to him, embraces him, and throws a feast. Again, mercy.

4. Zacchaeus the Tax Collector Zacchaeus climbs a tree just to see Jesus. And what does Jesus say?

“I must stay at your house today.”

Jesus reclines at table with tax collectors and sinners, showing mercy over and over.

These stories should shape our understanding of who God is.

Jesus came not to condemn but to show mercy and bring us to life.

As Pope Francis says again:

“Mercy gives rise to joy, because our hearts are opened to the hope of a new life.”

When we experience the mercy of Jesus—like those people did in Scripture—we’re filled with joy.

There’s nothing like being forgiven by God. It lifts the burdens from our souls and replaces them with peace and joy.

In the Gospel reading this past weekend, Jesus appears to His disciples after the Resurrection. In that room was Simon Peter, who had denied Him three times. There were others who had doubted—like Thomas—and those who didn’t believe the women who saw the empty tomb.

They were afraid, uncertain, maybe even ashamed.

And what does Jesus say to them?

“Peace be with you.”

He shows them His hands and His side. He doesn't meet them with condemnation. He meets them with peace.

One of the great saints of Divine Mercy, St. Faustina, wrote in her diary:

“Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy.”

Let me say that again:“Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy.”

We won’t find peace in our relationships, our world, or even in our own hearts without trust in God's mercy.

When we’re forgiven, we are filled with peace.

I ask you:

Do you want peace in your life? Then lean on Divine Mercy. Seek His mercy.

Let me return to where I began:

How many people have you said, “I forgive you” to in your life? How many people have you asked forgiveness from? How many times have you asked the Lord for His mercy?

When we trust in Divine Mercy, when we experience it for ourselves, we are transformed.

We receive peace. We receive joy.And that peace and joy overflow—we become ministers of mercy to others.

Just like the apostles, we are sent out into the world to bring that mercy to others.

That’s our calling today.

Are you ready to put your trust in Divine Mercy?

Are you ready to let the Lord lift your burdens, and flood your soul with peace and joy?

If so, let’s ask the Lord today:

Lord, take our sins. Lead us to repentance—perhaps even through the Sacrament of Confession. Flood our souls with Your peace and Your joy.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

God bless you this Divine Mercy Sunday.