The Catholic Writers Guild

I don’t know about you, but I think we artists, musicians, speakers, writers and editors need mercy.  And, if we want to share God’s mercy with a hurting world, we need to open ourselves to our Lord’s mercy in our lives. So, where do we begin?

Each year on the Sunday following Easter, regardless of the cycle, the Church proclaims the same gospel: John 20:19-31. These words become the core of the Divine Mercy Feast and provide us direction, too.

Jesus comes to each of us, now, as he came to His disciples then.

And so we ask ourselves: Does fear imprison us behind closed doors as it did the disciples?

God doesn’t mean for us to keep His truths locked away; rather He calls us to accept and translate those truths for others.

Jesus comes to us.  He meets us where we are.  He finds us, even passing through closed doors and the trials, fears, and excuses that keep us there.   How do we respond?

Jesus comes in peace.  He offers us that peace.  Can we truly embrace it?

Jesus then shows us His hands, feet and side.  Wow, dare we acknowledge what He has suffered for us…and allow ourselves to heal?

When the disciples see that it is the Lord, they are glad. Can we, too, rejoice in His Presence?  Fulton J. Sheen and many others wrote their best in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

Again, Jesus says, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.”

Will we go where He sends us?  Our Lord commissions us, as communicators, to carry His mercy into our world.  Will we go?

Jesus doesn’t leave us to our own resources.  He breathes on us.  He breathes His Spirit into us. “Receive the Holy Spirit…” He gives us the counsel and guidance we need.  Receive!

Jesus speaks to us about forgiveness.  Injustices bind us. Who are we holding hostage with un-forgiveness?  A current movie, entitled October Baby, beautifully portrays the power of forgiveness.  Watch that movie and see how forgiveness can and does change lives. We welcome that change.

Jesus appears again offering peace, especially to the doubter within us. “…do not be faithless, but believing.”  Will we like Thomas finally declare, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus tells us: blessed are we who have not seen and yet believe, that includes publications, too.

“Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God,”

What will we write so that others may believe in Him?

Yes, Friends, sometimes our ministries do demand that we hunker down behind closed doors, but with John 20 and God’s Divine Mercy we needn’t stay there.

His Blessings,

—Kathleen Swartz McQuaig

Editor’s Note: Kathleen Swartz McQuaig continues to crave Divine Mercy as she juggles life’s responsibilities with God’s writing, speaking, “spousing” and mothering calls.  She has served as President of the Military Council of Catholic Women, led workshops and spoken for ecumenical groups, church, youth, Life in the Spirit seminars and The Catholic Writers Guild.   Currently Kathleen’s developing a website where you can learn about the ten bazillion other interesting projects she’s worked on over the years.  In the meantime you can find her groveling for mercy and interacting with CWG friends here.

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