# Reflecting on Divine Mercy and the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
*2018-04-05*

> Bill Young explores the connection between Divine Mercy Sunday, the novena’s sixth day, and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., urging listeners to pray for humility and mercy.

## Why Dr. King Matters Today

I begin by asking why we should consider Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for sainthood. Critics point to his personal flaws—marriage, alleged affairs, and human failings—but Jesus forgave the woman at the well despite her many husbands. Likewise, God’s mercy extends to all sinners. King’s leadership freed an entire race, echoing the deliverance Moses brought for Israel. If King truly experienced visions of past and future, that would indicate a deep relationship with God, perhaps even miraculous. Such a relationship, if confirmed, would merit serious investigation.

## Divine Mercy Sunday and the Novena’s Sixth Day

This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, and today we pray the sixth day of the novena: “Today bring to me the meek and humble souls—children—so that they may be immersed in Your mercy.” The prayer emphasizes that only humble souls can receive God’s grace. I read the full prayer, invoking the meek, the humble, and the children as “earthly angels” who perfume the throne of God with their fragrance. The meditation reminds us that God’s mercy is limitless, even as evil reaches its measure.

## The Prayer of the Day

We recited the traditional prayers of the Divine Mercy novena: the opening prayer to Jesus, the Our Father, Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed, and the novena prayers offering the Body and Blood of Christ for the world’s sins. The repeated petitions—“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and the whole world”—echo the spirit of the novena and deepen our participation in Christ’s redemptive love.

## Upcoming Events and Resources

I invite listeners in South Florida to join the DVD screening of “The Second Greatest Story Ever Told” at St. David’s Catholic Church, Friday at 6 p.m., followed by the 33‑Day Morning Glory retreat series beginning the next Friday. The retreat aims to conclude on May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, which also falls on Mother’s Day. Copies of the DVD and related books are available through the Marians or Amazon, with free shipping for Prime members.

## Closing Prayer and Invitation

We concluded with a prayer asking God to increase His mercy in us, that we may never despair but trust in His holy will. I encourage anyone with questions to email me at young12@yahoo.com and to leave comments on the podcast or Block Talk Radio Show. May God bless you all.

*God’s boundless mercy calls us to humility, to pray for the meek, and to recognize the sanctity in those who have fought for justice.*