Divine Mercy Sunday and Osama bin Laden

This Sunday marked the Second Sunday of Easter in the Catholic Church. Traditionally known as Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church celebrates the revelations of Our Lord's love and mercy towards mankind, as given to St. Faustina. The Church also celebrated the beatification of Pope John Paul II this Sunday in Rome. Over 1 million pilgrims from around the world gathered in St. Peter's square (Rome) to celebrate the life of the late Holy Father who died on April 2, 2005.

As celebrations came to an end this Sunday, word spread quickly that well-know Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, had been killed by a team of U.S. troops in Pakistan.
Bib Laden was widely known as being responsible for the September 11th attacks and his death is an apparent victory for Americans and their allies around the world. Media networks around the country are reporting that many filled the streets last night in celebration of bin Laden's death.


Having just celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday, I personally find it disheartening to see fellow Catholics and Christians praising the death of Osama bin Laden. While he may have been responsible for death of countless Americans, celebrating his death goes against our Christian principles. In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord God says, "As I live, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ezekiel 33:11). It is clear that God, the author of life, does not want to see the death of his creation, no matter how wicked we may think they are. And instead of rejoicing at the death of bin Laden, should we not be praying for him, especially if we just celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday?

It would be understandable if many shared the sentiments of Mark Twain, who said, "I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." Osama bin Laden was responsible for terrible acts and it would seem that he would not merit heaven. But when we are honest with ourselves, we must all admit and realize that we do not merit heaven as well. We are all selfish and sinful in our own way and very often live for our selves. It's easy for us to think we are good when we compare ourselves to someone like bin Laden, but I believe we can still echo the sentiments of John Bradford who said, "but for the grace of God, there go I" when we think about bin Laden. While we may not be responsible for the physical death of thousands of people, we are all guilty of rejecting Christ in others through our thoughts, words or actions, ultimately leading to the spiritual death of a person.

It's always good for us to do some self reflection, especially if we are tempted to "notice the splinter in [our] brother's eye" (Matt. 7:3). Let us never waver of repeating the words of the tax collector in Luke 18:13, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner". And may we always trust in Our Lord's love and mercy towards mankind, for as Christ said to St. Faustina, "(Let) the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy"(Diary 1146).