|
My Dear Brothers and Sisters;
Bound together in the family of Divine Mercy, may we extend God’s Infinite Mercy to each other as Lent approaches. Lately, I have been led to meditate upon Our Lord’s Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. It began when I learned that one of my loved ones was planning to make a sinful choice that would permanently affect his life. I have never struggled with anxiety, but I can only imagine that what I experienced as I pondered his situation was akin to an anxiety attack! Then, it came to me that what Our Lord experienced in His agony was not so much due to His awareness of what He must go through, but was due to His awareness of all the sinful choices of all humanity who reject God’s mercy! I believe that a deep torment then gripped His soul to the point of causing blood to drip from His pores! Christ loved us so much He was willing to be sacrificed in order to save us, and yet many would chose to sin anyway, tossing away the free gift of Eternal Salvation. Our Lord knew these souls were choosing Hell for all Eternity, while He desired so much to freely give them Eternal Joy! From the cross Our Merciful Loving Saviour appealed again, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Likewise, I cried out to God for my loved one, “Father, forgive him for he does not know what he is doing.” Sadly, due to poor catechesis; the watering down of Truth and societal influences affecting our faith lives, many souls are ignorant of the mind of God. This is where we, who have been so undeservedly blessed with, and by, a calling to Divine Mercy, must quickly step in to close the gap. Just as there were last minute conversions at the hour of Our Lord’s Passion and Death, we can hope for the same for those for whom we pray, especially those who are slow in coming to receive the forgiveness of God. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters of Divine Mercy, let us pray for one another, that we can, by His grace, extend God’s Mercy to others. Let us offer up the agony (however slight in comparison to Our Lord’s agony) we feel in the sight of sin, for straying and lost souls. Let us unite our little agonies with Our Lord’s Agony, giving them more power and meaning. Let us intercede before the throne of Our Heavenly Father, as Jesus did, for poor souls. Let us be willing to make whatever sacrifices God asks of us, for those who do not yet know Him. I have not yet sweat blood for love of souls. Perhaps because God has not called me to, or perhaps because I have not yet loved as He loves. As we reflect upon Our Lord’s Agony this Lenten Season, may we be inspired to grow in merciful love for all sinners, including those of us called to the Divine Mercy Family. Mary, Mother of Mercy, support and pray for us, as you did for your Son. Jesus, we trust in You.
Praying for a deep and meaningful Lent for each of you, Your Sister in Christ, Grace Devine.
|