"Where have they taken my Lord?"

Ssshhh, the Lord is asleep … or is He? The whole of creation lies in stillness as we await the Lord’s Resurrection. Some may think that the Lord has fallen asleep after he expired on the Cross, but through our faith, we know better. Jesus had been telling people about the resurrection of the body to new life while he was here among us. He had also told his disciples about what he was to endure, but they apparently were not ready at that point to understand what he was saying. It seems as though their eyes were closed at the time. We have seen this a few times in both the Old and New Testament. We read about Tobit having lost his sight and the Archangel Raphael healing him. We read about the conversion of St Paul and how he was blinded until Ananias laid hands on him at the request of the Lord and Paul’s sight returned to him. So too, the disciples remained blinded until Jesus appeared to them.

We know that Jesus did not sleep when he died. There was much work for him still to do before the Resurrection. Matthew tells us a bit about what happened when Jesus died in chapter 27: 51-53 of his Gospel:

And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

In today’s Second Reading, from the Liturgy of the Hour for Holy Saturday, we are told, from an ancient homily on Holy Saturday, what the Lord may have done upon His death. The writer tells us that the Lord went to Adam and Eve and awakened them from their sleep and raised them up. How fitting that the first to be raised were the first man and woman here upon this earth. It was in the Garden that death came upon us in the beginning and it was in a garden that the Lord was betrayed, and in a garden that He would rise from the Tomb. Jesus explained to Adam of how he bore all of the sins and wounds for us, so that we would once again be free.

So, we can see that Jesus had much work to do after he gave up His Spirit. The magnitude of His sacrifice and what he did for us is hard to describe. When we think of the pain and hurt that we ourselves go through, we must never lose sight of how much more Jesus endured even worse suffering, so that we could be freed from sin and death. When I reflect upon this, I recall Psalm 116:

I love the LORD, who listened to my voice in supplication, Who turned an ear to me on the day I called. I was caught by the cords of death; the snares of Sheol had seized me; I felt agony and dread. Then I called on the name of the LORD, “O LORD, save my life!” Gracious is the LORD and righteous; yes, our God is merciful. The LORD protects the simple; I was helpless, but he saved me. Return, my soul, to your rest; the LORD has been very good to you. For my soul has been freed from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I kept faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted!” I said in my alarm, “All men are liars!” How can I repay the LORD for all the great good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Dear in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his devoted. LORD, I am your servant, your servant, the child of your maidservant; you have loosed my bonds. I will offer a sacrifice of praise and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

For me, from Holy Thursday until the Easter Vigil’s end is a time of great interior silence. It is a time when I try to ponder and treasure all of the good things the Lord has done and has yet to do for me. If I could, I would just withdraw from the world around me and sit in silence. Because of the demands of our daily lives and devotion to our families, this is not possible. So, what can we do about this? We can have for ourselves mini moments of reflection. While we are out and about getting ready for Easter and doing our shopping at market or for possibly new clothes or other things to celebrate this Feast, we can have our mini reflection as we wait in line at the store. Reflect upon Jesus and his sacrifice and his goodness, reflect on what he has done for us and our loved ones, reflect on how he has answered our prayers. This way we have the Lord on our mind and not the distractions of having difficulty in dealing with the crowds around us, especially those who may be in line or shopping around us that are testing our patience. Pray for them also, as Jesus did for St Ditmas, the good thief.

I would like to leave you with this song, which is based on Psalm 116. I am reminded of it during  Eucharistic Prayer II when the priest prays “You are indeed Holy, O Lord”.

This Cup of Blessing

Happy Easter,

Kerry

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Agony in the Garden

I have been reflecting on the Agony in the Garden since Palm Sunday. So many images have come to me. I think also of the comparisons of Jesus and Adam, the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethesemene. I thought about our own Garden of Life and the agony that we sometimes go through. Jesus has been instructing as all through his time here on earth to teach us about the Way of the Father and ultimately how we need to surrender to Him completely and to trust in him with out any fear or reservations.

Thinking back to Adam in the Garden, I always recall the Fall. How through the tempting of Satan, all things had changed. We were supposed to have eternal life then, but we fell and our eyes were opened and especially to our nakedness. Our nakedness in the fact that we are stripped bare and are vulnerable to all that is around us. I have also been dwelling on the disciple in the Garden with Jesus who, when threatened with capture sheds the only thing that clothes him and runs away from Jesus naked. Think about it. Have we done the same? Have we run away from Jesus at a time when we should have stood by his side and also tried to console him by following his examples? It is at these times that we should bring this before the priest as we go to Confession. When we go to Confession, we are also stripped bare and our sins and transgressions exposed through the light of the Holy Spirit. But there is hope and we are then clothed once again with the light of our Heavenly Father, as the priest is standing in for Jesus, the True High Priest and gives us absolution for the sins we have confessed.

When we find ourselves dealing with our own Agony in the Garden, it is time for us, as Jesus did, to call out to our Heavenly Father and pray to him. To ask also for Him to give us the support we need just as He sent an Angel to strengthen and support Jesus in his darkest hour. Yes, the Angels are all around us and are sometimes sent to help us and to strengthen us. Sometimes we don’t see them or feel their presence because our eyes may be closed to the Way of the Father and we lose sight of Him. Rest assured, though that He does hear our prayer and sends the Heavenly Hosts to help us. We should be confident to their presence even though we don’t see them. Afterall, we profess this in the Nicene Creed: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

Many times we pray, as Jesus did, to let this cup pass me by. The hardest thing, and sometimes very agonizing, is to surrender to God’s will and accept the trials that we go through. It could be our own soul searching, when we question our faith, it could be the illness of ourselves or a loved one or friend, or it could also be the death of someone very close to us. In all these situations, God IS hearing our prayers. When you can’t pray on your own, ask the Holy Spirit to do it for you. It is during this time in our own Agony, that the Lord is indeed strengthening us.I can’t help but to recall what St Paul tells in in 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10:

Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I would like to leave you with one final thought. We always think about Jesus and His Agony as well as our own, but what about Mary? What about Mary’s Agony? Her only Son goes with His disciples to share His last meal with them and to even give them a ‘heads up’ as to what is about to unfold. Even through the beginning of his Agony, he still sings of song of Praise and Thanksgiving to His Father after the meal. What may have been Mary’s thoughts as Jesus goes out to the Garden to pray? Did she know what was about to happen? Did the Holy Spirit give her some insight as to what was to befall her? Did she recall the words of Simeon, that her own heart would be pierced? Did she have that ‘feeling’ that mothers sometimes get when something happens to one of their children? What did she feel and what were her thoughts when she was told that her only Son had been arrested and was to stand trial?

Let us console also, the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary as we recall the Lord’s Passion and to be there for her as John was there for her. Let us also know without any doubt that Mary is always there to console us as we go through our own Agony in the Garden. It is during these times and times of betrayal that we should pray Psalm 55:

Listen, God, to my prayer; do not hide from my pleading; hear me and give answer. I rock with grief; I groan at the uproar of the enemy,the clamor of the wicked. They heap trouble upon me, savagely accuse me. My heart pounds within me; death’s terrors fall upon me. Fear and trembling overwhelm me; shuddering sweeps over me. I say, “If only I had wings like a dove that I might fly away and find rest. Far away I would flee; I would stay in the desert. “I would soon find a shelter from the raging wind and storm.” Lord, check and confuse their tongues. For I see violence and strife in the city making rounds on its walls day and night. Within are mischief and trouble; treachery is in its midst; oppression and fraud never leave its streets. For it is not an enemy that reviled me –that I could bear –Not a foe who viewed me with contempt, from that I could hide. But it was you, my other self, my comrade and friend, You, whose company I enjoyed, at whose side I walked in the house of God. Let death take them; let them go down alive to Sheol, for evil is in their homes and bellies. But I will call upon God, and the LORD will save me. At dusk, dawn, and noon I will grieve and complain, and my prayer will be heard. He will redeem my soul in peace from those who war against me, though there are many who oppose me. God, who sits enthroned forever, will hear me and afflict them. For they will not mend their ways;they have no fear of God. He stretched out his hand at his friends and broke his covenant. Softer than butter is his speech, but war is in his heart. Smoother than oil are his words, but they are unsheathed swords. Cast your care upon the LORD,who will give you support. He will never allow the righteous to stumble. But you, God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction. These bloodthirsty liars will not live half their days, but I put my trust in you.

If you can, please listen to this song, especially as we recall the Agony in the Garden of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also that of our own.

Into Your Hands

Peace and strength, in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary,

Kerry

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A fore shadowing of Mary's Fiat

I was drawn to this scene after the celebration of the Palm Sunday Liturgy after our Saturday 4 PM Vigil Mass. As I looked at the Cross with the Crown of Thorns, I couldn’t help but notice the stained glass window of Mary in the background as the Archangel Gabriel appears to her with the message form God asking her to be the mother of our Saviour. Maybe it is no coincidence that this Cross happens to be on display for Lent and Easter outside of our Reconciliation room. Maybe it is no coincidence that it is also before the window depicting the Annunciation. We may not have planned it that way when it was set up, but maybe the inspiration had come from the Lord himself.

This scene has caused me to reflect back on Mary saying Yes! to God. We know that the Holy Spirit overshadowed her from that moment on, bestowing upon her all of the Gifts that He has to offer. For what was in store for Mary she would need the Holy Spirit to give her the strength to endure. When she went to the Temple with Joseph to present our Lord Jesus to God, she was told things that a sword would pierce her heart  (Lk 2: 33-38). What Simeon prophesied was an indication as to how Mary’s Immaculate Heart was intertwined with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Most of us would have crumbled right then and there if we had heard the same message about our little child, but Mary had given herself over completely and without reservation to God and completely trusted in Him.

One of the strongest virtues to have had must have been patience. Enduring all those years, although they were very short when we think about them, wondering what God had in store for her, for Jesus, and for all of us. To see all of the works and miracles, as well as the teachings that Jesus gave to us, and have the overshadowing thought of her heart being pierced by a sword. Seeing that prophecy coming to fruition as we read recently in our Gospel readings of how those in authority plotted to get rid of Jesus and have him killed. To see Jesus preaching the Word of the Father Almighty and have it rejected as he himself was rejected by some as they try to stone him to death (Jn 10: 31-42).

The Palm Sunday procession of Jesus into the City of Jerusalem gave hope to many as they now embraced Jesus as their King and the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Here, all were gathered to celebrate the Passover Feast, to remember what God had done for them after He set them free from the bonds of slavery. God was about to do that again in an everlasting Covenant, signed, sealed and delivered by the shedding of the Blood of the Unblemished Lamb. Many had yet to realize this. Even his apostles did not have their eyes opened to this until after the Resurrection. I have to wonder at what thoughts Mary was pondering at this time, seeing her son lifted up mortally as a King by the crowds. Did she know that he was soon to be lifted up on the Cross in immortality? That this was now the time that Simeon’s prophesy was to be fulfilled?

This is a bittersweet Feast, both joyous and sorrowful. Oh, how I want to reach out to Mary and embrace her this time, instead of her always embracing me in my sorrows. I want to console her Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart. I want to tell her that I love her and that her sacrifice was not in vain. I want to be there with her and John at the foot of the Cross, when all others have fled, and embrace her and dry her tears. I want to be there as Jesus is taken down from the Cross and placed  in her arms.  I want to thank her for saying Yes! to God the Almighty Father, for leading us to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through her own heart that is forever intertwined with his. I want to thank her for picking me up when I fall and presenting me once again to Jesus. I want to also thank her for bringing to me the Peace of Jesus as I pray the Rosary to her in troubling times. Most of all I want to thank her for being my Mother too.

So, during this Holy Week let us console the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, as she so often, time and again consoles our hearts.

Let me leave you with this song in honor of Our Blessed Mother

Hail Holy Queen

Peace and Blessings to you,

Kerry

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Jesus Heals

Once again I find myself in the hospital. When you become sick and some serious events take place during this, you find yourself calling out in desperation to the Lord. The most fortunate thing in all of this is that we have, through our faith, been given hope. This hope becomes stronger knowing that the Lord is indeed hearing our plea to him and that he will answer our prayer. We also need to pray to him that he will open our eyes so that we will be able to see and know the way that he has answered our plea.

As we are dealing with the present state of our sickness, many questions are racing through our minds as to what is happening to us. I think the most asked question is “why me?”. We certainly never seem to have the answer to this question. We can only trust God in what he is doing. Sometimes we are just the instrument for someone else that the Lord is reaching out to. You may find that even as you are speaking with the care-givers that have been assigned to you, that the Lord is working through you for them. It can be in simple conversation or even in matters of faith. Most times He will only give us a little piece of the puzzle to keep us from being overwhelmed and sometimes to keep us humble. Oh, how much humility there is when we are at the mercy of others who are trying to help us when we are ourselves helpless.

I have seen the Lord at work through the promptings of the Holy Spirit in this recent situation. We need to continually pray that the Lord will open the eyes of our heart to Him and that we will be able to see the work that he is doing. Even if we are incapacitated medically, the Lord can still work through us. We just have to trust him completely. Sometimes it is good that we don’t know how he has affected an individual that he puts in front of us, because that keeps us humble and allows Him to do what he needs to do for them.

We know that there is always a reason for some of the things that happen to us, but we don’t always know why. Again, just trust completely in the Lord no matter how difficult it is at the time. When we don’t have the words to pray, be assured that the Holy Spirit is already praying for us:

In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.           Romans 6: 26-27

In closing I can not stress enough how important it is to pray to Our Mother Mary during all of this. It is without a doubt by praying the Rosary to her or even a few Hail Mary’s that she brings us Peace. It is the Peace of Jesus that she ultimately brings to us, for it is through Mary that we are brought to Jesus.

Peace,

Kerry

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Enter the Narrow Gate

…just a little food for thought.

Well, Lent is finally upon us. Fat Tuesday is always a day that gets me thinking. It seems that it is the last hurrah before we need to knuckle down and serious think about the Lord and His great sacrifice for us. Think about it, how many of us could give up our only son so that someone could live? But it doesn’t stop there. Who can even come close to out giving God? So it only seems appropriate that we ourselves need to make little sacrifices and to tithe and give to others as much of ourselves as we can.

Back to the Fat Tuesday theme. It is a day of great excesses, be it food, drink or the passions of the flesh. Its almost as if we are saying, as the bumper sticker says, “Jesus is coming, look busy!” We should be busy all year long doing the Lord’s work, even how small and trivial some of it seems. A great Saint to emulate in this matter is St Therese, the Little Flower. She found God in all of the simple things that she did, as well as St Francis de Sales.

The picture above speaks more than a thousand words. I took this photo at a Presbyterian Church near my home. Enter the Narrow Gate! For some of us I fear that after Fat Tuesday, or living our lives as if every day is Fat Tuesday, may not be able to fit through that narrow gate because of our excess baggage. It is this baggage that we need to offer up to the Lord and ask him to help us carry it and slim ourselves down by surrendering to him 100% of our lives, so that we too may be able to fit through that narrow gate.

As for giving up something for Lent and making small sacrifices, it will indeed help us to slim down the excess bulk of our baggage that we may fit easier through the gate. All we have to do is ask Jesus for His Divine Mercy and forgiveness and to help us carry our load and burdens. I can tell you this; He has not let me down yet. Sometimes though, we need to ask him to open the eyes of our hearts to see the work that he is doing for us, through us and in us.

Have a happy, meaningful and great season of Lent.

Peace and Blessings,

Kerry

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I was soon heading back home but wanted to stop to go to confession at St Anthony’s the Shrine of the Worker not too far from there. I took the first parking space I could find within a bit of a walking distance to St Anthony’s, or Arch Street as we also refer to it. It was quite a walk but I didn’t mind too much on this brisk day. A ways from there I developed a severe cramp in my leg but kept going. It would seem to me that at that point the enemy was hoping I would turn back and just go home. As I got to the corner of Arch St, I noticed plenty of empty parking spaces all around. That’s how it goes sometimes for me. It seemed as the journey to get there was a penance in and of itself.

When I neared the doors to go in, a homeless gentleman spotted me and got up and approached me. In my selfishness, I didn’t want to be bothered, but said to the Lord o.k. I’ll give him what I can. He asked for some money to eat. The thing was, he was not a bit offensive, but I actually felt a peace come over me as I spoke with him. I gave him some money and he actually gave me a blessing. I went inside and checked the schedule… I missed the opportunity for confession and it would be another hour before they would be available. As I left I knew that this was as the Lord had planned for me. I didn’t get to go to confession, but I did serve my penance in helping that gentleman. I will tell you how happy I was when I saw him emerge from the coffee shop with a coffee in his hand. The Lord certainly does work in mysterious ways.

I made my way back to my parking spot feeling enlightened. As I was driving home, I began to reflect on my experience and ‘heard’ very clearly, the Lord tell me that the homeless man was indeed Jesus. Deep down I had known this as I left the Shrine. Although sacramentally I did not receive absolution for my sins from the priest, I was given my penance from the True High Priest. I related this story to a dear friend of mine and before I could tell her what I heard on the ride home, she told me that it was Jesus whom I had actually helped. I know for me that this was an affirmation, as most times the Lord will speak to me through those that he surrounds me with. I am so thankful that the Lord has opened the eyes to my heart that I have been able to find him in these different situations.

So, the next time that you are out and about, ask the Lord to open the eyes of your heart that you may come to recognize him however he chooses to present himself to you.

Peace and Blessings,

Kerry

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By the shedding of his own blood, Christ, the high

priest, entered the sanctuary once and for all

From the Letter to the Hebrews      9: 11-28

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living  God. For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.  Now where there is a will, the death of the testator must be established. For a will takes effect only at death; it has no force while the testator is alive. Thus not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.When every commandment had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves (and goats), together with water and crimson wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is ‘the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined upon you.’” In the same way, he sprinkled also the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood. According to the law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified by these rites, but the heavenly things themselves by better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages  to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Taken from the Liturgy of the Hours

Vol II p. 472

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Third Sunday of Advent

‘Gaudete in Domino semper!’

Rejoice in the Lord always!

This is the translation above. As we enter the third week of advent, the theme is Joy. We should be joyful that the season is almost over and the celebration of the birth of our Savior is near.

When we light the rose colored candle it is for Joy. My wife likes to refer to it as the ‘panic’ candle as Christmas is so near. It also makes us aware of our preparation for Christmas not only in a secular state, but also spiritually. The question that we should be asking is “Am I  ready spiritually for Christmas?”. It seems that there are a lot of distractions that we have to deal with during this season. There are distractions both at work and at home that can cause us anxiety and stress.

The first reading from Sunday is from Zephaniah. This reading should speak to our hearts as we are dealing with these distractions around us during Advent:

Zephaniah 3:14-18a

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.

On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!

The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you,

The second reading from Paul also addresses anxiety and how we should pray to God for his peace and present to him all of our petitions:

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice  in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!

Your kindness  should be known to all. The Lord is near.

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

It is too easy to get caught up in all of the commercialism of the season and to forget the real ‘reason for the season’ is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. John the Baptist has been preparing us for the coming of the Messiah. John is the voice of the one in the wilderness that is crying out to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’. John gives us good examples to follow in the Gospel reading from Luke 3:10-18. He tells us about giving to those in need, by not taking more from others than we are supposed to, to not extort from others nor accuse others falsely.

John also speaks of humility and unworthiness. He speaks to us as to Jesus being the only one who is worthy. John baptized with water for the forgiveness of sins and he tells us that it is Jesus who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. As we continue with the season of Advent, let us also be reconciled back to God through our confession of our faults and sins, of what we have done and what we have failed to do as we prepare for the birth of our Savior.

So, as we continue, let us ask Jesus to baptize us with the Holy Spirit so that the Fire of the Holy Spirit may burn away our earthly, stubborn will and only strive to do the will of the Father.

Jesus, come fill our hearts with your Joy. We ask you to take away all of our anxieties during this season of Advent as we prepare to celebrate your birth. We pray also that as we contemplate our failings to do good for those around us in need, that you will let your Divine Mercy wash over us and stand before your judgment. Give us a true servant’s heart, that we may serve you and be able to minister to those around us that are in need during this season of preparation for your birth.

Peace and Joy in Christ,

Kerry

To You O Lord – Psalm for Advent

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Merry Christmas

Once again we find ourselves in the Season of Christmas. For me, it is a time of reflection, to look back upon the year as it draws to a close. It is also a time when I try to recall all of the good things that the Lord has done for myself, my family and my friends. It is also a time for spiritual growth, a time to remember and give thanks to the Lord for all of the graces that he pours forth from his Most Sacred Heart.

When we think of Christmas, we are reminded of the Joys that we have been given. I have also learned this past week that Joy is also intertwined with sorrow. It ‘comes with the ticket’ so to speak. We laid to rest a friend on Christmas Eve day. Her birthday was on Christmas Day. Before she was called home, she had said that she wanted to be with Jesus on her birthday. What a precious gift to have!

Despite the sorrow that we all felt at this time, we celebrated her life, her life in Christ Jesus. She had shown us through example how God asks us to live. I have also learned that there are many forms of healing that the Lord bestows upon us. I know that Karen had brought such healing, as simple as they may be, to those whose lives she touched. During her funeral mass, I had prayed to the Lord that he would send his Holy Spirit upon us for comfort and consolation during this time. It was overcast with no sun that morning. During the homily, the Lord did send His Holy Spirit to us. The sun broke through the clouds briefly and shone very brightly through the stained glass window of the Holy Spirit’s descent on Pentecost to Mary and the Apostles. I saw the Joy return in this brief moment to Karen’s family and friends who saw this happen. Even in death, there is Joy and there is Life.

Peace

Kerry

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  Sister Faustina with the Divine Mercy Image

We are children of the God of Mercy. The God that we praise and worship is a most merciful God. Jesus loves us so much that he wants to let his mercy stand before his judgment. In other words, Jesus wants to show us his mercy, his Divine Mercy, before he has to judge us. I cannot say enough about Divine Mercy and I pray that through the grace of God, that I may be able to always speak of it. Jesus wants us to trust completely in him and know that he loves us unconditionally. So many times as we struggle to stay on the right path, there are many more times that we backslide and stray off of the path that Jesus wants to lead us on.

So, what is Divine Mercy? The Lord has blessed me by surrounding me by friends who have taught me so much about the ways of the Lord and his grace and mercy. The Lord is very simple, it is we who complicate the Lord. He simply asks that we go to Him constantly in prayer, to repent of our sins and to ask for His mercy, not just for ourselves, but for the whole world. The Lord also wants us to be merciful just as He pours out His mercy upon us. Jesus wants us to trust completely in Him. The more trust that we have, the more of His mercy and grace that He will pour out upon us.

The message of Divine Mercy was given to us through the private revelation from Jesus to Sister Faustina. These revelations are contained in her diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul. Jesus had instructed her with the prayers for the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena. The prayers are very simple and help us to ask God for His mercy, not only for ourselves, but for the whole world. Jesus asks that we recite the chaplet at the 3:00 o’clock hour. The hour of Divine Mercy when he died on the Cross. If we cannot do this, he simply asks us to remember His Passion at that time.

I will always remember the first time that I celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday. In the parish that I am a music minister, we had the honor of hosting Divine Mercy Sunday in 2008. There are five parishes in the town and often we do things as a cluster. Our church, Sacred Heart, had just been rebuilt after a devastating fire. The new church had been dedicated on December 15, 2007. This was a great celebration for us. It was also through the grace and mercy of the Lord that we were able to rebuild the church. The presence of the Holy Spirit was amazingly strong and felt by many people.

There were many experiences for me that day. During the petitions and prayers of the faithful, God’s mercy and grace poured forth. For myself, it was overwhelming. I had very little control of my emotions as the prayers were read. What I felt is very hard to explain, as sometimes words cannot explain the presence of the Holy Spirit. I felt God’s mercy pouring through me like a river. I felt people’s anxieties, I felt their emotions, I felt their surrender, I felt their pain and most of all I felt their healing. I cannot put this into words, but I was overflowing and had difficulty even standing. After the prayers there was complete peace! I know first hand that there were many healings that took place that Divine Mercy Sunday.

I cannot say enough about the grace and mercy of the Lord. I cannot say enough of the healing that comes from Jesus as we praise and worship Him. I cannot say enough about the workings, gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants to work through all of us, just as He called His disciples to do. He is also calling on us to do works of mercy. You can go to this website to learn more about Divine Mercy:    http://thedivinemercy.org/message/

I will leave you with this question and a song:  As Jesus will let His mercy stand before His judgment, are we willing to let our mercy stand before someone before we judge them?

Your Mercy and Love

May Peace, Grace and Mercy be yours,

Kerry

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