On these two pages are the contents of a recent talk given in the Deanery by
Father Mariusz Jarzabek of the Divine Mercy Apostolate, Henley-on-Thames
(website: www.marians-uk.org).

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How wonderful is this parable about the prodigal son. It shows us who God really is. Sometimes people think that God is very stern and harsh, waiting for people to punish them for all their sins and wrongdoings. But God is like the father from the parable, full of love, goodness and compassion. He has a great respect for our freedom.

The father allowed his son to take a half of his estate and to leave his house. It was not easy for the father to see his son going away. He was keeping him in his heart, and thinking about him; he was longing and waiting for him.

The lost son made a wrong choice. He squandered his money on a life of debauchery. His sin had terrible consequences in his life. He was desperate, unhappy and humiliated. He had to struggle to survive. Loosing the sense of life and dying of hunger, he decided to come back home. He was aware of sin he has committed and was really sorry for what he has done.

He sincerely confessed: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you". The prodigal son did not expect such a loving, tender and compassionate reaction of his father. He was prepared for just punishment. Yet, his father was moved with pity and full of joy; he forgave all his sins, and restored his lost dignity.

He made a great feast on this occasion. Such is our God we believe in. Such great is His inconceivable love and mercy.

The Merciful Father sent His only begotten Son "so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved" (Jn 3:16-17).

Merciful Lord is coming to our world today to restore our dignity and to deliver us from all kinds of evil. He dose not want to punish us but He wants to show us His unbounded mercy. God is still waiting for every human being to come back to Him. He is waiting for the true conversion of our hearts; He is waiting for the admission of our sins.

Our world is getting more and more secularized. I heard someone say that Britain is no longer a Christian society. Many people live as if God did not exist. The majority of Christians in Britain and in many parts of Europe do not practice their faith. Moral life in our society is deteriorating.

Children and teenagers are influenced by many negative programmes on media like the TV and the Internet, in which "Infidelity, sexual activity outside of marriage, and the absence of a moral and spiritual vision of the marriage covenant are depicted uncritically, while positive support is at times given to divorce, contraception, abortion, and homosexuality."

(John Paul II Message for the 38th World Communications Day 2004). Children are often put in danger from immorality, alcohol, and drugs.

We cannot help seeing growing disrespect for human life. John Paul II, in His exhortation "Ecclesia in Europe" (The Church in Europe), published on 28 June 2003, speaks about "the present in contemporary society." (95)

How can we be restful knowing that 500 unborn babies are killed every day in Britain? That is 179, 000 abortions every year. It is also very painful to learn about human victims of stem cell research, genetic manipulation, in vitro fertilization, cloning and euthanasia.

God is waiting today for His lost sons and daughters who live in this troubled world wounded by mortal sin. They need His help and forgiveness. But those who are dying just now and who will die soon - urgently need His mercy.

Each of us still needs God's mercy.

God has revealed His mercy during the history of the earth many times both in the Old and in the New Testament. He is called 'rich in mercy' (Cf. Ep 2:4). From the very beginning His mercy has always been proclaimed in the Church. But in recent times God wants to be known more as the merciful Father.

He chose Sister Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun from the Congregation of the Sisters of our Lady of Mercy, to be the great Apostle of His mercy. She came from a very poor family who had struggled hard on a little farm. She was the third of ten children and had only three years of very simple education.

Sister Faustina lived only 33 years (1905-1938) and 13 she spent in the Congregation working as a cook, gardener, and porter. Though her life was very simple, it was filled with many extraordinary gifts and graces: revelations, visions, hidden stigmata, exceptional participation in the Passion of the Lord, prophecy and mystical espousal and marriage.