Divine Mercy came in power and majesty to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on April 16, 2009 when more than 4,500 adults and 1,500 youth gathered for the seventeenth annual Lift Jesus Higher Rally.

Crowds began gathering in the early morning hours and were greeted with the beautiful sounds of uplifting music led by Susan Hookong-Taylor and Ana Da Costa. The day kicked off with a procession and crowning of Our Lady by the Heralds of the Gospel. Then Deacon Tom Welsh blessed the volunteers and, with a small army of deacons, blessed the hall. The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary preceded the first talk by Peter Herbeck of Renewal Ministries, who began by highlighting the triumph and the majesty of our Lord’s victory over death. He called upon those listening to hear the testimony of our brothers, the Apostles, in the Acts or the Apostles, who disturbed their leaders with their teaching. When “only twelve” raised their hands to show that they had Bibles with them, Peter reminded the people, “Don’t leave home without a sword.”

The Church is irresistible in fighting against the world, the flesh, and the devil; yet those powers are still in the world. We received our body from God, but the rebellion against God’s plan exists in realities like abortion and pornography, which grosses more money than all professional sports throughout the world.

The flesh shows itself in the drive within us for self-preservation and self exaltation. Echoing the words of Satan, “I will not serve” and “My will be done” rather than the Lord’s. Jesus gives us a new heart which loves the Lord and desires His will. Sin’s nearness to us promotes remoteness from God.

Peter quoted Pope Benedict who has said that faith has been dying out like a flame that no longer has fuel. Society is losing its bearings as God is pushed to the margins of life. The light begins to go out and is replaced by darkness, chaos, and confusion. The world suppresses the truth about God, yet there is no forgiveness without the shedding of Christ’s blood. The devil thought he had the victory, but we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Jesus is in control through His humility and love. Now mankind has a future, because God lives in us. Sanctification leads us to eternal life in Christ Jesus.

The Apostles, who had been full of fright, beheld the glory of Christ and became fearless. It was impossible for them to stop talking about Jesus. We can share in the Lord’s glory and live a life towards fulfillment, because Jesus is subduing the enemies of God and establishing the reign of God. The Church is a living conduit of God’s mercy, and the whole universe will declare, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Pope John Paul called us to be “total and radical” in our faith, and Peter painted the image of televised poker (which “only twelve” watch) in which Jesus is asking us to be “all in” with our chips. Too many take a minimalist approach to Catholicism using it as “fire insurance,” keeping one foot in the Kingdom and one in the world. Peter then shared about being one of seven kids in a family of “Sunday Catholics,” with severe problems who all came to the Lord in 1977 and touched the power they never knew they had. He exhorted everyone to never stop praying for their children and grandchildren.

In the next talk, Tim Staples, the former Baptist and now Catholic apologist, immediately got the audience’s attention by saying that too many Christians are “fat, dumb, happy, and spoiled” and that it is time to act as Catholics. In the midst of chaos and confusion, there needs to be a grassroots renewal in Catholic pews among those who want “the real deal.” With 65 million Catholics in the States and another 13 million in Canada, we need to stand up and be counted.

Tim stressed that, as stated in the Catechism, dogma has an impact on the way we live our lives and quoted Archbishop Fulton Sheen who said that any spirituality that bypasses the cross to get to the Resurrection is a sign of the demonic. That is in stark contrast to the Baptist belief that justification comes by faith alone. Far too many have been lulled to sleep and have become wimps, feeling they’re already “saved.”

Tim said that Easter Sunday, 1974 when he committed to Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior was a great first step, but there is so much more. To the delight of the audience, he said that Jesus must not have gone to a Billy Graham Crusade; because He asks a lot more—that we keep the commandments. It is tempting for us to create God in our own image rather than the other way around.

Tim exhorted everyone to “get your tails to Confession.” He quoted Mark Twain who said that he didn’t like to write but loved to have written. That is similar to our reaction to Confession, because we need to humble ourselves in Reconciliation but the feeling afterwards is fantastic.

Tim had a word for “Cafeteria Catholics”: “The cafeteria is closed.” Catholics need to make a radical commitment as outlined in Lumen Gentium. Salvation is through the Church, and we must accept all teachings and the authority of its ecclesiastical government.

Tim warned that often we are not preaching the Gospel straight in our churches. We create doctrines we like rather than truly following the Lord. He then contrasted the Jesus of the Bible versus the Jesus in popular culture. The real Jesus never had sensitivity training and never read “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” To emphasize that, Tim quoted from the Luke 9: 57-62 account of Jesus’ meeting with people who want to follow him. Jesus “was a carpenter before power saws,” and he makes demands on his followers.

Tim said that he loves to preach on texts that no one else wants to explore. In Luke 13:1-6, Jesus said that unless you repent, you will perish. Jesus loves with a love that transcends. Love is a gift of self without asking anything in return.

In Matthew 15:22-27, Jesus encounters a Syrophenician woman, asking for His help. Jesus appears to be anything but interested in her plight, yet He is really digging down getting at her real needs. Jesus doesn’t need us; we need Jesus. He wants to do so much for us, but he wants our commitment.

Christ’s death on the cross had infinite merit, but we have to respond. As a result, our suffering is salvific; and we become little Christs “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.”

Tim pointed out that even Mary had to put up with Jesus’ seeming rebukes at the time He was lost in the temple and at the Wedding Feast in Cana, where His time “had not come.” We should preach the Gospel the way it is; and when we reach roadblocks, God wants to pull something deeper out of us. God is challenging us as he challenged St. Joseph when he was sure that he had to put Mary away.

Tim ended by reminding the gathering that the greatest evil in the world—killing God—gave us the great gift, our salvation.

Sister Ann Shields, in the afternoon talk, began by recounting two prophecies which were spoken in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome at the first International Charismatic Conference in May, 1975. Ralph Martin had spoken the first, in which the Lord said, “Because I love you, I want to prepare you for what is to come. There will be days of darkness, tribulation, buildings no longer standing. Cleave to me. Strip yourself of everything. Depend on Me. There will be a time of glory for my Church, but prepare yourself for spiritual combat.” The second confirmed the first, “I speak to you of a new dawn for my Church. Things will change, and you will need the power of the Holy Spirit. Open your eyes and hearts. The Church will be different. I will support you. Band yourself around Me. Behold, the triumph has begun.”

As these prophecies were being spoken, people around Sister Ann were complaining about the heat and the time being taken; yet, in spite of the packed crowd, a Frenchman in his eighties began to kneel and to weep as he heard the message. The differing reactions reminded Sister Ann of Matthew’s parable of the sower. The French gentleman had truly heard the message.

Sister Ann believes that the Lord has been preparing us to listen, to heed His message. The seed is being cast. Are we too distracted spiritually or mentally to hear the word? “Where are you? Where am I?”

We are asked by the Holy Spirit to take His word and live it out. Sister Ann recounted how, one day, the Lord “said” to her to eat His word, to love one another as I have loved you. She took it literally and ate the paper, yet she is convinced that that is where her order, The Servants of God’s Love, took root.

Sister Ann then began an inventory of spiritual health for those in attendance. “What takes you away from the Lord?’ God says, “If you are willing, I am able.” We’re going to have to “make some waves.”

She then asked about our relation with God. “Do you know God as father? Do you know Jesus as redeemer, savior, shepherd? Are you confident that He is your advocate and comforter?” Come back to God again and again and again.

“Is daily prayer with scripture part of your life?” It re-forms your mind to think as God thinks. His word is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.” “Do you know the ways of the Lord? Is His word forming you? What are you doing in your relationships with others?

“Where am I on shaky ground? If the Lord were coming tomorrow, what regret would I have? What would I have done differently? What would I have spent more time on?” We need to prepare, prepare.

“Do I regularly confess sin?” Pope John Paul went daily. It is best for our children and grandchildren if we are humble and look at our own sin. Echoing Tim Staples’ words, she said that we should run to Confession to be set free and united to God.

“Have I grown in faith, hope, and love? What do I really stand for?”

Sister Ann then reflected on the woman on one of the planes which went down on 9/11 who called her husband to let him know how much she loved him—a true example of what it means to love one another before you love yourself. The weaker you are and the more you know it, the more the Divine Mercy can work in you.

We are all precious in God’s eyes. God forgives; God forgets. Trust Him will all your hearts for the grace for the next moment, no matter how heavy the burden.

Father Tom Rosica then led a powerful Eucharistic Procession and Divine Mercy Hour followed by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Thomas Collins and Bishop Pearse Lacey along with many other priests.

In his homily, Archbishop Collins focused on how nature brings us to God and mentioned the image of the energy radiated when a stone is dropped into water. We are people of the Resurrection and servants of the Lord. The energy of the Resurrection sent wave upon wave radiating out. There is the irresistible force of God’s love.

Although guessing that most men named Thomas hope that they had been named for a Thomas other than the Apostle, Archbishop Collins mentioned Thomas’ testimony of faith, “My Lord and my God,” and how he was sent to India to proclaim the Gospel.

In the reading from Acts, the first Christians had “put their money where their mouth was” by living selflessly. Archbishop Collins contrasted the great difference between the way to life, which is selflessness, and the way to death, which is selfishness. The energizing presence of the Lord leads to selfless service.

We remember Jesus but we also encounter Him in the Eucharist and in the word. The Sacrament of the Divine Mercy has life-giving energy. “Whose sin you forgive are forgiven.” That is the gift of the Resurrection.

We are to bear witness to the Lord with our lips, minds, and hearts and are called to make the Risen Lord present through our humility, generosity, and sanctity. “This is the Day of the Lord. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Buoyed by those words calling us to radiate the energy of God’s love to those around us, those in attendance left thankful for a day filled with enthusiasm for their life as Catholics and inspired to work hard for the coming of God’s Kingdom.