The deeper mystery of the Transfiguration

The Transfiguration of Our Lord on Mount Tabor is one of the more mysterious events of the Gospels that can easily be overlooked, brushed over, minimised or misunderstood. It is mentioned in all 3 of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36), and also in the Letter of Peter (2 Peter 1:16-18). So it is an important and significant moment in scripture that we need to humbly and prayerfully meditate upon. 

Usually there have been two interpretations of this event: 

• One takes the theophany approach similar to when Jesus was baptised in the Jordan - where the voice of the Father says “this is my Beloved Son” and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove. This is a theophany - God manifesting and appearing. In this interpretation it is that Jesus’ Divinity is being manifested and it is a theophany of the Trinity revealing the identity of Jesus as also the Second Person of the Trinity. Linked in with this is the emphasis on Jesus manifesting his glory to the Apostles to strengthen and prepare them for the scandal of the crucifixion. 

• The other approach is the typology/symbolic one that focuses on the presence of Moses & Elijah. This emphasises that Moses represents the Law, while Elijah represents the Prophets - and so the presence of them both is to demonstrate that Jesus himself is the fulfilment of both the Law & the Prophets in his very being. So it is seen as a confirmation of the ministry and message of Jesus as the promised Christ who fulfills the Law and also with the spirit of Elijah is inaugurating the end times as prophesied. 

Both of these traditional interpretations are true and very beautiful. My intention is not to downplay them or invalidate them, but to deepen their power by highlighting another aspect of the Transfiguration. 

As a Carmelite I have a special devotion to the theme of sacred mountains within scripture. This is one of the reasons I always felt attracted to the Carmelites, because of their connection to Mt Carmel and the Prophet Elijah. Scripture references multiple holy mountains as places of encounter with God or worship to God - Moriah, Sinai, Zion, Horeb, Carmel, Tabor, Calvary (Golgotha). There are also prophecies about worshiping God on his mountain in Isaiah 2:3 and the place of heavenly worship with the angels Hebrews 12:22. 

According to tradition, the Mountain of the Transfiguration is called Mount Tabor. The deeper significance of the appearance of Moses and Elijah in this theophany can easily be overlooked. Not only are Moses & Elijah present with Jesus on Mount Tabor, but they are also talking with him. This is a significant detail, but why? The Gospel of Luke tells us that they are discussing his exodus - his departure to Jerusalem. Both Moses and Elijah also each had their own exodus when they travelled through the desert.  

But there is also another deeper explanation that is not just symbolic, but says that Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus at the Transfiguration is linked to their own personal encounters with God on a mountain. 

Both Moses & Elijah had a unique powerful encounter with God on a mountain, where the Lord manifested himself and spoke to them. The Lord manifested himself to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:2-9, 27-28) and to Elijah on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19: 11-18).  Both of them cover their faces and bow in worship to the Lord when He manifests himself to them. This is because no one can see the Face of God and live (Exodus 33:20). But now in Jesus, we can see the Father because to see Jesus is to see the Father (John 14:9).  

So what does this have to do with the Transfiguration? We often understand this event as Moses and Elijah being brought to Tabor and appearing with Jesus. So we assume this is a separate event in and of itself. But what if we understood it differently as not an isolated event… what if the event of the Transfiguration the the Apostles were witnessing was also the very moments when Moses & Elijah encountered the Lord? This would mean that the Apostles were witnessing the exact moments when the Lord spoke to Moses on Sinai and Elijah on Horeb simultaneously - all at once in the event of the Transfiguration! Thus witnessing that the Son who the Father is well pleased in, is the same one who partially manifested to Moses and Elijah, but is now fully manifested and revealed in the flesh as the Christ to the Apostles! 

Understanding it this way makes the whole event come so much more alive for me. It connects the theophanies to Moses and Elijah and brings them to Christological fulfilment at the Transfiguration. I cannot claim that this is my own personal insight that I have discovered or invented, but I did hear it from someone else although I cannot remember where. I think I might have heard this from Dr Brant Pitre? But I am not entirely sure. 

Either way, may this different perspective of the Transfiguration help you to enter deeper into the mystery of the Trinity and the saving power of the Word made Flesh - Immanuel (John 1:14), Our Lord Jesus Christ who will one day share with us His Glory (1 John 3:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18) and bring us face to face with God (Hebrews 1:3, 1 Corinthians 13:12). 

The God who revealed himself to Moses in the Burning Bush and on Sinai through the Law, the God who revealed himself to Elijah in the breeze - is the same God now fully revealed and manifested to us in the Transfiguration and on Calvary. The God of Abraham, Issac & Jacob, the God of Moses and Elijah, Our Lord and God Jesus Christ is preparing for us the Heavenly Jerusalem on Mount Zion so that we will live forever in His Presence (Revelatiom 21:2-4) in eternal glory, where He dwells in His own inaccessible light (1 Timothy 6:16). 

This is the ancient mystery kept secret but now revealed to us (Colossians 1:26-28), the First Born of all creation who is the Image of the Invisible Father (Colossians 1:15-19), has saved us from darkness and made us his coheirs to share in His Kingdom (Colossians 1:11-14) where the Lord himself will be our light (Revelation22:3-6). We share now but imperfectly, in this glorious mystery whenever celebrate the Sacrifice of the Eucharist - the Mystery of Faith (1 Corinthians 11:26) we proclaim at every Mass. The Risen Christ hidden and revealed to us in the Eucharist, fills us with the same light and glory He shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit (John 16: 12-15, John 17:1-26), that was magnificently shown to the Apostles at the Transfiguration. 

Jesus Christ is the total and complete revelation of God - the Holy Trinity - Father, Son & Holy Spirit. The mysterious theophanies of the Old Testament only make sense in light of the New Testament, because they were actually Christophanies - revealing the revelation of Christ that can only be understood and tasted in the Eucharist (Luke 24:13-35). The New and Eternal Covenant (Hebrews 13:20, Luke 22:20, Matthew 26:28, is the Light that enlightens the gentiles and gives glory to Israel (Luke 2:32) - the light of the Resurrection (Philippians 3:21) that was revealed briefly on Mount Tabor at the Transfiguration. 

The spirit of criticism blinds you to the state of your soul

Today in the Office of Readings in the Divine Office, there is a very interesting (and relevant to us today) homily by St Augustine. He makes the connection between those people who always criticise others as being unable to conquer their own sins, so they focus on everyone else. In the modern day we call this “spiritual bypassing” where we ignore our personality flaws or issues and try to replace it with a facade of piety that makes you feel better about yourself but is not done out of love for God. This it is a form of false piety and not authentic spirituality. 

St Augustine then discusses the sacrifice that God accepts according to Psalm 51:16-19. Often our spiritual life is based upon doing the things that we like, we want to do and we think everyone else should be doing. But there is no transformation of the will in this approach. When our spiritual life focuses on us needing to change, to be transformed and to be holy - this is then the right path of purity of heart. When our intentions and desires conform to what God wants of us, and not on what we want or think is best. 

It takes true humility to redirect our attention to critiquing others, and to look inward at our faults. I do not mean this as a type of low self esteem with negative thoughts about ourselves. But rather a true understanding of the talents God has given us, and the particular vices and temptations we struggle with. Refocusing our attention on our own sinfulness is what creates humility in us. A true understanding of our identity that without the grace of God we cannot do anything good or pleasing to God. Once we get understand what a slave to sin we are, we can then develop compassion for others who are also enslaved to sin and learn to pray for them instead of criticising or condemning them. 

The temptation going back as far as Adam & Eve is to blame others and criticise others. But true spiritual freedom is only looking at our own sins and faults, and understanding that it is only through Christ and the Holy Spirit that we are able to be pleasing to God and to live in love. Without love nothing is pleasing to God. So we need to learn to constantly battle deep within our heart and discern between God’swill for us and our own sinful will that tries to find excuses, hide and blame others, constantly criticising but never changing or growing in charity. 

We are not alone in this struggle. Each and everyone of us is going through this and must go through this. But we know that through our identity with Christ and embracing our cross - rather than merely accepting it begrudgingly, that yoked together with Jesus and strengthened by the Holy Spirit we can be victorious in the struggle and attain purity of heart. The single minded desire and comformity of our will to the Will of God.

Conformity to the Image of Christ as spiritual perfection

In the Office of Readings for today, there is a wonderful reflection by St Gregory of Nyssa on Christian Perfection. He uses 3 images to help illustrate his point - a pearl, pure stream and stamp. 

It is important to note that in patristic terminology the word “passions” refers to disordered desires, and so has a negative meaning. This is different from our modern understanding of being “passionate” as something that is positive. 

All of us by virtue of our baptism are conformed to Christ. We are recreated in His Image, and sealed by the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. This is the foundation of our entire spiritual life as Christians, and it gives us the grace needed in our life as we follow Christ. St Gregory reminds us that our following Christ must be in our thoughts, words and deeds. All 3 are necessary. 

The more that we confirm our thoughts, words and deeds/actions to Christ then as we progress spiritually Christ will be made manifest in our life. We will begin to reflect Him to others, the light of Christ shining through us helping other people to encounter Him through the beauty of our holiness. This beauty of God that shines through us attracts others to God and draws them into relationship to the most Holy Trinity.  This is not our own doing, but instead it is the work of the Trinity in us through our identity in Christ and our continual conformity to His Image that we bear through the life of grace.

The Spirituality of a solitary bird

I was reading through the Maxims of St John of the Cross today, and out of the different quotes that spoke to me - this particular one stood out. Partially because of the detail it has compared to his other maxims, but also for recognising the importance of understanding it correctly in context. 

It can be easy to read this, and then have some pious romantic and idealistic ideas of what it means to be “contemplative” and to try to act aloof to the world and people around us. But this would be to misinterpret him. 

The analogy of a bird is one he uses more than once. It symbolising rising up to God and being free, without being weighed down or constrained by attachments. So the emphasis in this quote below would be to start with the premise of the foundation of the spiritual life singing sweetly in the presence of the Beloved. Only from this starting point do the other points make sense and can be understood correctly from a theological viewpoint without misunderstanding. 

The focus for St John of the Cross is always only for God in all things, and so by always being attentive to God and focused on His loving presence - that is how you are able to remain in your ordinary day to day life, fulfilling your duties and being charitable to all those around you. But without heing held captive to people or things, and so there is never a moment or situation in which you cannot contemplate God or sing sweetly of his loving presence when that is your primary focus. Authentic Catholic spirituality is not escapism, but rather love of God and neighbour are always interchangeable and never mutually exclusive.

The life giving Mystery of Faith in the Eucharist

Today we celebrate the wonderful, awe inspiring and incredible Solemnity of Corpus Christ! This is the feast day where we liturgically celebrate and focus on the mystery of the Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

In honour of today, I have been reading through the not very well known Encyclical Mysterium Fidei of Pope St Paul VI. He wrote this in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council when people were trying to distort the liturgical reforms of the Council, as an excuse to promote error and heresy regarding the Church’s fundamental belief of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

Without getting into discussions on the failure or distortion of the liturgical reforms, and steering clear of the liturgical wars - we can take time to appreciate the beauty of doctrine explained in this Encyclical by Pope Paul VI. He focuses on the following : 

• The Liturgy is the lived expression of the faith of the Church, handed on by the Apostles who received it directly from Christ, where the Mystery of the Faith is re-presented throughout time 
• The Sacrifice of the Mass is the offering of the entire People of God in the Church, through the hands of Priests 
• The Mass as the one Sacrifice of Christ when celebrated and offered continues the salvation of the world, because it is the work of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross applied anew everyday
• No matter when or where Priests offer the Sacrifice of the Mass, it is always a public liturgical act of the entire Church and contributes to the redemption and sanctification of all the members of the Church - and the entire world
• In the Eucharist, there is a union between Sacrifice and Sacrament that is unique from all other forms of symbolism and sacramentality. The Sacrifice of Christ and the Sacrifice of the Eucharist are inseparable, because they are one and the same mystery 
• The wonderful mystery of the Presence of Christ is a mystery of love, and also a mystery of faith that continues throughout the history of the Church
• The fullest and most real expression of the Presence of Christ as Emmanuel (God with us) is fulfilled and perpetually present in the Church in the Blessed Sacrament - the sacred species consecrated in the Sacrifice of the Eucharist
• The Church’s perennial understanding and explanation of this mystery uses the term “transubstantiation” which was defined by the Council of Trent. As the dogmatic and historical expression of the faith of the Church, the term transubstantiation cannot be changed or redefined
• The miraculously and mysterious reality of the Real Presence of Christ in the bread and wine in the Sacrifice of the Mass, is a unique and wonderful new reality that mysteriously changes thee bread and wine through substantiation into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ who himself instituted the Eucharist as a perpetual memorial of his very self 

Out of the depths - an existential prayer

Out of the depths I cry to you Lord (Psalm 130:1) 

From the depth of sin 

From the depth of darkness 

From the pit of despair 

From the depth of loneliness 

From the depth of my exile from you

From the depth of my being … 

I cry to you oh Lord, 

I know you hear me even when I run from you 

You are always with me.. 

Calling me back to you, 

If only I listen to your voice 

Hear my prayer Lord and teach me to listen to you 

Teach me to hear your voice 

Teach me to seek after and yearn for you

Teach me your ways and teach me your love 

Bring me back to you 

Bring me to you through the wonder of my being 

Draw me out of all my desires so that you are all I seek

May you be all I want 

May you be all I need 

May you be all I desire and thirst for 

Quench my thirst in the depths of my being as you call out to me Lord 

Bring me home to you - 

Your home within me 

Abide in me so I can abide in you 

May I rest in you and in your Presence .. 

bring me your peace

Deep calls out to deep 

Before I call out for you, 

You have called out to me from all eternity 

Hear my voice oh Lord, 

And speak to my heart as I speak to yours 

Out of the depths I cry to you Lord 

My voice united to your Word 

Speaking your love and blessings over me 

Calling me back to you 

Calling me back to myself 

Calling to me from the deep 

Out of the depths you cry to me Lord 

I hear your voice! 

Rescue me from myself 

So that I can finally be still and know you are God 

My God, the Rock 

My saviour who rejoices over me 

Who overshadows me and whispers to the depths of my being 

Teaching me to walk in your footsteps 

So that no matter how far I wander 

You will always bring me home 

Blessing our enemies is non negotiable

Blessing our enemies is non negotiable. 

Many of you I am sure have seen the horrible news about knife attack against Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney Australia. One of his priests was also injured, as well as some of the congregation. But Praise God no one was killed. 

It is normal and natural to have experienced anger and/or outrage over what happened. No one should ever have to fear being able to attend a place of worship, wondering if they’ll be attacked or killed. What happened was evil and inexcusable. Full stop. It does most matter what religion or denomination they belonged to, people have the right to feel safe in a place of worship. 

However, what many of us forget as Christians is we are called to not just be normal. We are called to be abnormal, called to live a life of supernatural grace. Our righteousness needs to be above and beyond that of others (Matthew 5:20). We are in the world but not of this world (John  25:19? Romans 12:2), we have been called and set apart from the world by Jesus himself to be his witnesses in the world, sanctified in truth (John 15:16-21). But this also means we are called to respond differently than the norm as well…. 

We are told to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, pray for them and even BLESS them (Luke 6:27-28, Matthew 5:43-48, Romans 12:14,). This is something that we have heard so often that it’s easy to take for granted, or dismiss. But when we are confronted in our real life and it personally affects that - then we easily forget these teachings of Jesus and want revenge. This is where prayer and grace are essential. Because it is natural and normal to want revenge for theo who have deliberately hurt us or our family and loves ones. But to be able to resist our nature, and pray for them, to bless our enemies … this is beyond our human capacity! This requires grace and the strength of the Holy Spirit living within us (Romans 8:11). 

But what does it mean to bless? It means to wish then well, to wish them happiness and peace. It can hard to do this on the best of days for our own family members who stress us out and annoy us, let alone our enemies! But this is what Jesus teaches us to do, tells us we have to do as his disciples. It is a non negotiable. 

Now if we struggle so much with bitterness and anger against family members, or people at work we dislike, politicians or even the random person who walks slow in front of us at the shops! How will we be able to respond if we are ever in a situation like what happened in Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney? If someone attacked you with a knife and stabbed you, could you honestly say you could bless them and forgive them? What about if they attacked your husband or wife or children? Could you still say you could forgive them and bless them? 

If we are honest, most of us would answer with a loud NO. 

It would be an act of heroic virtue to be able to forgive and bless someone who physically attacks us or our loved ones. Yet this is what Jesus expects of us all, and has given us the power to do through the gift of the Gospel and His Holy Spirit. He did not put limitations on who we don’t have to forgive. We do not have any excuses, we are commanded to live eachother, love others, bless those who curse and persecute or attack us. This is real Christianity! This is the harsh reality of our faith put into action in real life. 

This is why a defining characteristic of Christianity has always been the witness of the martyrs. In their death, they became living witnesses to all the world of the love of Christ that means more to them than anything in this world. The history of our martyrs is that they died either praising God, praying for their persecutors or blessing them. But they did not try to curse them or call upon God for vengeance. Nor did the pray to God to kill their enemies - instead they submitted themselves into God’s hands and thanked him for counting them worthy to die for the Gospel. 

So please take time to consider this recent terrible event and reflect upon how you are reacting to the news… 

- Are you instinctively wanting to write angry posts online about extemist terrorists? Or are you praying for the conversion of the attacker? 

- Are you asking for justice and vengeance for the victims? Or are you praying for them during this time of need for healing and consolation? 

- Are you instinctively responding by thinking “yep typical, another attack from these people from certain ethnic groups and/or religions, they’re all evil and we need to get rid of them”. Or are you praying to God to take away the bitterness and judgement in your heart, and asking God for the grace to pray for the repentance of the perpetrator and also for those who will be blamed for his actions and considered guilty by association? 

It does not matter the circumstance or situation. We are always called as Christians to pray for all, to seek after peace, do good (not just talk about it online), and to be a blessing to all in the world so corrupted by evil and sin. 

It is disappointing and disheartening to see people respond to this tragic event by saying “oh well, but he’s not a true bishop is he? Isn’t he a Nestorian or something?”. 

My response to that is “so what? If even a Nestorian behaves more Christlike than you do, then what does it say about you spiritually?”.  

I urge you all my fellow believers, not to let injustice and evil take away your joy and peace of heart. Yes it is normal to be angry and upset at unjust things, absolutely. But we also need ti understand that we cannot remain angry and bitter - because it makes us self righteous and hard heartened, eventually destroying us spiritually because we no longer have charity within us. Without love we are not Christian’s. Anyone can be angry, but true Christians forgive and bless and have love. Without love, everything we say or do is just empty and meaningless (1 Corinthians 13:2). 

We must all pray at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We need to pray for those who annoy us, those who hurt us, and even those who trigger hatred within us. Those who we disagree with theologically or philosophically or politically. We don’t have to like them, but we must love risk and pray for them. We must never dehumanise those who are against us, because in the process we dehumanise ourselves by allowing hatred to rule in our heart and thus grieving the Holy Spirit within us (Ephesians 4:30-32)

Fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12), do good works for your enemies (Romans 12:21), bless those who curse you (Romans 12:14) - this is the way of the Cross. This is way of Jesus and his beloved disciples. May the world always know we are disciples of Christ (John 13:35), living as the true Sons of God (1 John 3:1-3).

In our current days, all us Christian’s are united by the bond of the “ecumenism of blood” as Pope Francis has stated. The outside world does not understand the internal historical, theological and doctrinal divisions between all the different denominations. It just sees us as follows of Christ, and so somehow we are “different” to them. Now is the time to unite in our prayers together, supporting eachother as fellow believers in a world becoming increasingly more hostile towards us. Death, persecution and attacks are always a possibility for us merely for believing in Christ. This was true for the martyrs in ever generation of the church, and it is still true for us today in 2024. 

You have inviolable dignity

You have inviolable dignity. You are loved and worthy of love, you were made for love. Jesus restores our dignity to us no matter how often we trample upon it and misuse it. Jesus always offers his hand out to us in love to free us from the dominion and slavery of sin that tries to disfigure and destroy us. 

Many of you may be currently inundated with news articles, stories, and online stories regarding the new document from the Dicastry for the Doctrine of Faith on human dignity. As always, people will try to cherry pick only one or two points out of context and misinterpret or misrepresent what it says. Many of you might feel overwhelmed with all the media responses and not had the chance to read the document for yourselves. 

Without getting into the specific content that easily falls into debates around topics in the current culture wars - I wanted to highlight for you some of the passages that really stood out for me. Overall it’s a very good document and it beautifully puts the dignity of the human person within the historical theological context of the Church, whilst engaging with modern terminology as well. 

I have created these quotes for you all to help highlight the particularly important and beautiful parts of this document. Understanding our own dignity and the dignity of others is vital for is to live the power of the Gospel in our life and to share that with all those around us. 

The reality of sin is that no only is it an offends against God, but it is also an offence against our own dignity as given to us by God.  The misuse of our freedom when we sin is ultimately a perversion of our dignity given to us by the Holy Trinity. The deeper I come to understand this truth, the more I begin to understand my struggles with habitual sins and my woundedness. But Christ restores to us our dignity that we have disfigured through sin, he washes us and cleanses us, he restores and elevates us, enlightening us and glorifying us as he transforms us into his likeness. 

If you get the chance, I recommend as always that you read the full documents of the church yourself. Never let other people’s opinions or the media “interpret” the doctrine of the Church for you. You have a responsibility to learn your faith so that you can live it out and teach others the saving power of the Gospel. 

Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday

Wishing you all a very blessed Divine Mercy Sunday! 🙏 

I wanted to share with you all a recent experience of mine with the amazing mercy and love of God. I forgot how it is connected to the promises of the Divine Mercy devotion, and so thought it appropriate today to share it with you. 

On Christmas Day 2023 my uncle passed away from cancer. He had been baptised Catholic and had his First Holy Communion as a boy, but was not practicing and more or less an atheist. He had been the driver of a car in an accident when he was younger that killed his sister - and so all his life he blamed himself for her death and believed he would go to hell. 

2 weeks before he died, my Aunty (his wife) called me and asked me to come pray with him as they didn’t think he had long to live. This surprised me as he often mocked my faith in a semi sarcastic loving way. He would say to me “just remember lad where you come from, don’t think your sh@? doesn’t stink”. To which I would reply back to him “even the most beautiful flowers have to grow out of sh@?!”. It was how we bonded with eachother. 

During his last two weeks I tried to visit him most days and would sit in the loungeroom with him while he was asleep. I’d pray the Divine Mercy chaplet and Rosary for him, praying for his soul. He let me pray the prayers for the dying with him and I blessed him with Holy Water. Then the next day, through a miracle - he agreed for my parish priest to visit him and hear his Confession, receive Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion. The next day, he agreed to me bringing him Holy Communion again as well. 

Praise God for his loving mercy! 

To appreciate the miraculous nature of this you had to know my uncle. He had been a drug dealer as long as I can remember and a regular drug user. He mocked religious people as being “do gooders” and hypocrites. Plus all his life he genuinely believed he deserved to go to hell because of the car accident that killed his sister. I don’t think he would have received any of the Sacraments for at least 40 years or more. So you can understand my shock when not only did he let me pray with him and for him, but then to agree to have a random priest come for his Confession! I would never have thought that would happen in my wildest dreams. 

Then after his death I was asked by the family to do the funeral service. They are all non Christian atheists. 3 out of his 5 children have been in and out jail, and have drug addiction issues. Another one of our cousins was in jail and so at the funeral he attended with two prison officers and in handcuffs. Yet there I am at the cemetery in my habit and wearing a surplice - praying the Final Commitment prayers and incensing my uncles body as it lay in the coffin. 

One of my uncles best friends was shocked and said to my mum “how did you manage to get a priest to agree to do the funeral??”. She laughed and responded “That’s not a priest. That’s my son, he’s a hermit monk!”. She then had to convince him that it was not a joke and she was being serious. That’s how unconverted and far from God my uncle and all those around him were. Yet through a miracle he repented on his deathbed, died in a state of grace and had a Catholic funeral! Praise God for his mercies! 🙌

I never preach to my family or try to convert them in the sense of debating with them. I pray for them all and try to live my faith by example. Over time, the graces from my flawed example is bearing fruit, and even if I never saw any fruit again - I would still be in awe and thankful for the grace of my uncle’s conversion before he died! 

I believe this all happened due to the graces from the Divine Mercy. One of the promises of the devotion is that those who are dying with receive Mercy and conversion.

Jesus I trust in you!