The feast we celebrate today is intimately connected, I would say, to Divine Mercy Sunday. Both feasts focus on the verse: "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out." (Jn 19: 34) The historical veracity of this is corroborated by the Shroud of Turin. However, why is it so significant? The evangelist saw it as the fulfilment of Scripture and as verification of his eyewitness account of the crucifixion: "He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he know that he tells the truth." (Jn 19: 35) Subsequently, St Margaret Mary Alacoque and St Faustina Kowalska saw in the phenomenon the outflowing of Christ's mercy. In their visions of the risen Christ they experienced God's mercy not just for themselves but for the whole world. We can also connect this with the water that flows from the side of the Temple (Ezk 47: 1-12) and the Patristic theology of Jesus as the Second Adam who has the Church born from his side as he hung in the sleep of death on the Cross (CCC 766). From death comes life and from shame and condemnation, mercy. This great mystery is revealed to societies who are starved of mercy and despair of forgiveness. Let us take advantage of this feast day to renew our trust in Christ's mercy and strive to show something of that mercy to others.
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