Living with Christ
June 14, 2015. Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 4:26-34
Jesus said to the
crowds, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to
scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed
would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields
fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when
the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come."
He said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can
we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground,
is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs
up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the
birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." With many such parables he spoke
the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did
not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe
You have called me to strive tirelessly to extend Your Kingdom throughout the
world. I hope in You because You are the one the Father sent. I love You. Thank
You for inviting me to be an apostle of Your Kingdom.
Petition: Lord Jesus, make
me an apostle of Your Kingdom.
1. Kingdom of God: Christ returns to
this theme again and again. It was the topic of his first public sermon. He
gives us the image of the mustard seed which grows to be the largest of plants
and in turn serves other creatures’ needs. The Kingdom of God is like this. God
is king and his Kingdom, like the mustard tree, is a safe haven for us. We can
dwell in its shade, rest on its branches, and find protection from evils. All
we have to do is be faithful subjects of our King, following his commands and
going out to spread the news of his Kingdom to all people.
2. Modest Beginnings: We should not get
anxious when we do not progress in the spiritual life as fast as we would like.
God moves us along little by little. The life of our relationship with Christ
does not depend solely on us, but on him. We are like good farmers who do our
part to make sure the conditions are good for the seed to grow, but it is the
Creator who makes the growth happen. Often we do not perceive the work of God
in our souls until much time has passed. However, he is constantly there,
pulling out our weeds one at a time, and pushing our virtues to the surface.
3. Called to
Greatness: Two thousand years ago, Christ’s Church started off like a small
mustard seed. It has grown and matured to be a huge plant with many branches. I
am one of those branches. Christ brings life to my branch and assigns me a
specific task. He calls me to participate in the great mission of his Church.
Do I realize and relish how great it is to be a Catholic, how much good the
Church does, how I am called to be a link that will bring others to experience
the same goodness I have experienced?
Conversation with
Christ: Lord Jesus, I am a member of Your Mystical Body. I want to partake in
Your mission of bringing all souls to know and love You. I have found my joy in
You, and now I have a burning desire to make it known to all people. Lord, I
pray for the courage to keep going, never tiring from the mission You have
given me.
Resolution: I will take a
moment in prayer to reflect on how God has worked in my life, making me grow.
Excerpts from the
DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
36 Once I was summoned to the
judgment [seat] of God. I stood alone before the Lord. Jesus appeared such as
we know Him during His Passion. After a moment, His wounds disappeared except
for five, those in His hands, His feet and His side. Suddenly I saw the
complete condition of my soul as God sees it. I could clearly see all that is
displeasing to God. I did not know that even the smallest transgressions will
have to be accounted for. What a moment! Who can describe it? To stand before
the Thrice-Holy God! Jesus asked me, Who are you? I answered, "I am
Your servant, Lord." You are guilty of one day of fire in purgatory. I
wanted to throw myself immediately into the flames of purgatory, but Jesus
stopped me and said, Which do you prefer, suffer now for one day in purgatory
or for a short while on earth? I replied, "Jesus, I want to suffer in
purgatory, and I want to suffer also the greatest pains on earth, even if it
were until the end of the world." Jesus said, One [of the two] is
enough; you will go back to earth, and there you will suffer much, but not for
long; you will accomplish My will and My desires, and a faithful servant of
Mine will help you to do this. Now, rest your head on My bosom, on My heart,
and draw from it strength and power for these sufferings, because you will find
neither relief nor help nor comfort anywhere else. Know that you will have
much, much to suffer, but don't let this frighten you; I am with you.
83 Write this: before I come as the just
Judge, I am coming first as the King of Mercy. Before the day of justice
arrives, there will be given to people a sign in the heavens of this sort: All
light in the heavens will be extinguished, and there will be great darkness
over the whole earth. Then the sign of the cross will be seen in the sky, and
from the openings where the hands and the feet of the Savior were nailed will
come forth great lights which will light up the earth for a period of time.
This will take place shortly before the last day.
374 J.M.J Vilnius, Februrary 4, 1935
[page in the Dairy with the words "From today on my will does not exist" crossed out with a large 'X']
The moment I knelt down to cross out my own will, as the Lord had bid me to do, I heard this voice in my soul: From today on, do not fear God's judgment, for you will not be judged
[The next page has...]
J.M.J Vilnius, February 4, 1935
[page in the Dairy with the words "From today on my will does not exist" crossed out with a large 'X']
The moment I knelt down to cross out my own will, as the Lord had bid me to do, I heard this voice in my soul: From today on, do not fear God's judgment, for you will not be judged
[The next page has...]
J.M.J Vilnius, February 4, 1935
496
Confession Day. From early morning, the turmoil in my soul was more violent
than anything I had ever experienced before. Complete abandonment by God; I
felt the utter weakness that I was. Thoughts bore in upon me: why should I
leave this convent where I am loved by the sisters and superiors, where life is
so tranquil; [where I am] bound by perpetual vows and carry out my duties
without difficulty; why should I listen to the voice of my conscience; why
follow an inspiration coming from who knows where; wouldn't it be better to
carry on like all the other sisters? Perhaps the Lord's words could be stifled,
not taken heed of; maybe God will not demand an account of them on the day of
judgment. Where will this inner voice lead me? If I follow it, what tremendous
difficulties, tribulations and adversities are in store for me. I fear the
future, and I am agonizing in the present.
This suffering continued with the same intensity throughout the whole day. When, in the evening, my turn came for confession, I could not make a full confession, even though I had been preparing for a long time. I received absolution and left, not knowing what was going on within me. When I went to bed, the suffering grew even worse; or rather, it changed into a fire which penetrated all the faculties of my soul like lightning, piercing me to the marrow, and to the most secret recesses of my heart. In the midst of this suffering, I was unable to bring myself to do anything. "Your will be done, Lord." At times I could not even think these words. Truly, a deadly fear had taken hold of me, and the flames of hell were touching me. Toward morning, silence set in, and my tribulations disappeared in the twinkling of an eye, but I felt so frightfully exhausted that I could not even move. During my conversation with Mother Superior, my strength returned bit by bit, but God alone knows how I felt throughout that whole day.
This suffering continued with the same intensity throughout the whole day. When, in the evening, my turn came for confession, I could not make a full confession, even though I had been preparing for a long time. I received absolution and left, not knowing what was going on within me. When I went to bed, the suffering grew even worse; or rather, it changed into a fire which penetrated all the faculties of my soul like lightning, piercing me to the marrow, and to the most secret recesses of my heart. In the midst of this suffering, I was unable to bring myself to do anything. "Your will be done, Lord." At times I could not even think these words. Truly, a deadly fear had taken hold of me, and the flames of hell were touching me. Toward morning, silence set in, and my tribulations disappeared in the twinkling of an eye, but I felt so frightfully exhausted that I could not even move. During my conversation with Mother Superior, my strength returned bit by bit, but God alone knows how I felt throughout that whole day.
625
In the evening, when I was praying, the Mother of God told me, Your lives must
be like Mine: quiet and hidden, in unceasing union with God, pleading for
humanity and preparing the world for the second coming of God
635
March 25. In the morning, during meditation, God's presence enveloped me in a special
way, as I saw the immeasurable greatness of God and, at the same time, His
condescension to His creatures. Then I saw the Mother of God, who said to me, Oh, how pleasing to God is the soul that
follows faithfully the inspirations of His grace! I gave the Savior to the
world; as for you, you have to speak to the world about His great mercy and
prepare the world for the Second Coming of Him who will come, not as a merciful
Savior, but as a just Judge. Oh, how terrible is that day! Determined is the day
of justice, the day of divine wrath. The angels tremble before it. Speak to
souls about this great mercy while it is still the time for [granting] mercy.
If you keep silent now, you will be answering for a great number of souls on
that terrible day. Fear nothing. Be faithful to the end. I sympathize with you.
660
O my Jesus, on the day of the last judgment, You will demand from me an account
of this work of mercy. O just Judge, but my Spouse as well, help me to do Your
holy will. O mercy, O divine virtue!
O most merciful Heart of Jesus, my Betrothed, make my heart like unto Yours.
O most merciful Heart of Jesus, my Betrothed, make my heart like unto Yours.
793 I am reliving these moments with
Our Lady. With great longing, I am waiting for the Lord's coming. Great are my
desires. I desire that all humankind come to know the Lord. I would like to
prepare all nations for the coming of the Word Incarnate. O Jesus, make the
fount of Your mercy gush forth more abundantly, for humankind is seriously ill
and thus has more need than ever of Your compassion. You are a bottomless sea
of mercy for us sinners; and the greater the misery, the more right we have to
Your mercy. You are a fount which makes all creatures happy by Your infinite
mercy.
825 + O bright and clear day on which
all my dreams will be fulfilled; O day so eagerly desired, the last day of my
life! I look forward with joy to the last stroke the Divine Artist will trace
on my soul, which will give my soul a unique beauty that will distinguish me
from the beauty of other souls. O great day, on which divine love will be
confirmed in me. On that day, for the first time, I shall sing before heaven
and earth the song of the Lord's fathomless mercy. This is my work and the
mission which the Lord has destined for me from the beginning of the world.
That the song of my soul may be pleasing to the Holy Trinity, do You, O Spirit
of God, direct and form my soul yourself. I arm myself with patience and await
Your coming, O merciful God, and as to the terrible pains and fear of death, at
this moment more than at any other time, I trust in the abyss of Your mercy and
am reminding You, O merciful Jesus, sweet Savior, of all the promises You have
made to me.
840 December 23, [1936]. I am spending
this time with the Mother of God and preparing myself for the solemn moment of
the coming of the Lord Jesus. The Mother of God is instructing me in the
interior life of the soul with Jesus, especially in Holy Communion. It is only
in eternity that we shall know the great mystery effected in us by Holy
Communion. O most precious moments of my life!
895
January 23, [1937]. I did not feel like writing today. Then I heard a voice in
my soul: My daughter,
you do not live for yourself but for souls; write for their benefit. You know
that My will as to your writing has been confirmed many times by your
confessors. You know what is pleasing to Me, and if you have any doubts about
what I am saying, you also know whom you are to ask. I grant him light to
pronounce judgment on my case. My eye watches over him. My daughter, you are to
be like a child towards him, full of simplicity and candor. Put his judgment
above all My demands. He will guide you according to My will. If he doesn't
allow you to carry out My demands, be at peace; I will not judge you, but the
matter will remain between Me and him. You are to be obedient.
1074 When I went for adoration, I
heard these words: My beloved daughter, write down these words, that today
My Heart has rested in this convent [the Cracow house]. Tell the world
about My mercy and My love.
The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!
My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it -with peace.
Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.
The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them!
My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it -with peace.
Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.
1075 Souls who spread the honor of My
mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at
the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. At
that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy.
Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of
Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it.
1076 Write this: Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother's womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.
1076 Write this: Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother's womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.
+ Particular Examen
Union with the merciful Christ. With my heart I encompass the whole world, especially countries which are uncivilized or where there is persecution. I am praying for mercy upon them.
1317 I understand Your words, Lord, and the magnitude of the mercy that ought to shine in my soul. Jesus: I know, My daughter, that you understand it and that you do everything within your power. But write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy.
Union with the merciful Christ. With my heart I encompass the whole world, especially countries which are uncivilized or where there is persecution. I am praying for mercy upon them.
1317 I understand Your words, Lord, and the magnitude of the mercy that ought to shine in my soul. Jesus: I know, My daughter, that you understand it and that you do everything within your power. But write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy.
1339 O merciful God, You do not
despise us, but lavish Your graces on us continuously. You make us fit to enter
` Your kingdom, and in Your goodness You grant that human beings may fill the
places vacated by the ungrateful angels. O God of great mercy, who turned Your
sacred gaze away from the rebellious angels and turned it upon contrite man,
praise and glory be to Your unfathomable mercy, O God who do not despise the
lowly heart.
1548 January 30, 1938. One-day
retreat.
The Lord gave me to know, during
meditation, that as long as my heart beats in my breast, I must always strive
to spread the Kingdom of God on earth. I am to fight for the glory of my
Creator. I know that I will give God the glory He expects of me if I try
faithfully to cooperate with God's grace.
1701 I asked the Lord today that He might
deign to teach me about the interior life, because of myself I can neither
understand nor conceive anything perfectly. The Lord answered me, I was your Teacher, I am and I will
be; strive to make your heart like unto My humble and gentle Heart. Never claim
your rights. Bear with great calm and patience everything that befalls you. Do
not defend yourself when you are put to shame, though innocent. Let others triumph.
Do not stop being good when you notice that your goodness is being abused. I
Myself will speak up for you when it is necessary. Be grateful for the smallest
of My graces, because your gratitude compels Me to grant you new graces...
1702 Towards the end of the Way of the Cross
which I was making, the Lord Jesus began to complain about the souls of
religious and priests, about the lack of love in chosen souls. I will allow convents and churches to
be destroyed. I answered, "Jesus, but there are so many souls
praising You in convents." The Lord answered, That praise wounds My Heart, because
love has been banished from convents. Souls without love and without devotion,
souls full of egoism and self-love, souls full of pride and arrogance, souls
full of deceit and hypocrisy, lukewarm souls who have just enough warmth to
keep them alive: My Heart cannot bear this. All the graces that I pour out upon
them flow off them as off the face of a rock. I cannot stand them, because they
are neither good or bad. I called convents into being to sanctify the world
through them. It is from them that a powerful flame of love and sacrifice
should burst forth. And if they do not repent and become enkindled by their
first love, I will deliver them over to the fate of this world...
How can they sit on the promised throne of judgment to judge the world, when their guilt is greater than the guilt of the world? There is neither penance nor atonement. O heart, which received Me in the morning and at noon are all ablaze with hatred against Me, hatred of all sorts! O heart specially chosen by Me, were you chosen for this, to give Me more pain? The great sins of the world are superficial wounds on My Heart, but the sins of a chosen soul pierce My Heart through and through...
1703When I tried to intercede for them, I could find nothing with which to excuse them and, being at the time unable to think of anything in their defense, my heart was seized with pain, and I wept bitterly. Then the Lord looked at me kindly and comforted me with these words: Do not cry. There are still a great number of souls who love Me very much, but My Heart desires to be loved by all and, because My love is great, that is why I warn and chastise them.
How can they sit on the promised throne of judgment to judge the world, when their guilt is greater than the guilt of the world? There is neither penance nor atonement. O heart, which received Me in the morning and at noon are all ablaze with hatred against Me, hatred of all sorts! O heart specially chosen by Me, were you chosen for this, to give Me more pain? The great sins of the world are superficial wounds on My Heart, but the sins of a chosen soul pierce My Heart through and through...
1703When I tried to intercede for them, I could find nothing with which to excuse them and, being at the time unable to think of anything in their defense, my heart was seized with pain, and I wept bitterly. Then the Lord looked at me kindly and comforted me with these words: Do not cry. There are still a great number of souls who love Me very much, but My Heart desires to be loved by all and, because My love is great, that is why I warn and chastise them.
1712 A certain person whom I have mentioned
before visited me again. When I saw that she was beginning to get entangled in
her own lies, I let her know that I knew she was lying. She became very
embarrassed and stopped speaking. Then I spoke to her about the great judgments
of God, and I also remarked that she was leading innocent souls astray and
along dangerous roads. I uncovered before her everything that was in her heart.
Since I had to overcome my own feelings in order to talk to her, to prove to
Jesus that I love my enemies, I gave her my afternoon snack. She went away
enlightened in soul, but action is still far away...
1722 I heard these words: If you did not tie My hands, I would
send down many punishments upon the earth. My daughter, your look disarms My
anger. Although your lips are silent, you call out to Me so mightily that all
heaven is moved. I cannot escape from your requests, because you pursue Me, not
from afar but within your own heart.
1728 Write:
I am Thrice Holy, and I detest the smallest sin. I cannot love a soul which is
stained with sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity
toward it. My mercy embraces and justifies it. With My mercy, I pursue sinners
along all their paths, and My Heart rejoices when they return to Me. I forget
the bitterness with which they fed My Heart and rejoice at their return.
Tell sinners that no one shall escape My Hand; if they run away from My Merciful Heart, they will fall into My Just Hands. Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart... when will it beat for Me? Write, that I am speaking to them through their remorse of conscience, through their failures and sufferings, through thunderstorms, through the voice of the Church. And if they bring all My graces to naught, I begin to be angry with them, leaving them alone and giving them what they want.
1729 O my Jesus, You alone know of my efforts. I seem to be a bit better, but better only to the point that I can go out on the veranda instead of lying in bed. I see and am fully aware of what is happening to me. Despite the diligent care of my superiors and the efforts of the doctors, my health is fading and running out. But I rejoice greatly at Your call, my God, my Love, because I know that my mission will begin at the moment of my death. Oh, how much I desire to be set free from the bonds of this body. O my Jesus, You know that, in all my desires, I always want to see Your will. Of myself, I would not want to die one minute sooner, or to live one minute longer, or to suffer less, or to suffer more, but I only want to do Your holy will. Although I have great enthusiasm, and the desires burning in my heart are immense, they are never above Your will.
1730 I fly to Your mercy, Compassionate God, who alone are good. Although my misery is great, and my offenses are many, I trust in Your mercy, because You are the God of mercy; and, from time immemorial, it has never been heard of, nor do heaven or earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your mercy has been disappointed.
O God of compassion, You alone can justify me, and You will never reject me when I, contrite, approach Your Merciful Heart, where no one has ever been refused, even if he were the greatest sinner.
Tell sinners that no one shall escape My Hand; if they run away from My Merciful Heart, they will fall into My Just Hands. Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart... when will it beat for Me? Write, that I am speaking to them through their remorse of conscience, through their failures and sufferings, through thunderstorms, through the voice of the Church. And if they bring all My graces to naught, I begin to be angry with them, leaving them alone and giving them what they want.
1729 O my Jesus, You alone know of my efforts. I seem to be a bit better, but better only to the point that I can go out on the veranda instead of lying in bed. I see and am fully aware of what is happening to me. Despite the diligent care of my superiors and the efforts of the doctors, my health is fading and running out. But I rejoice greatly at Your call, my God, my Love, because I know that my mission will begin at the moment of my death. Oh, how much I desire to be set free from the bonds of this body. O my Jesus, You know that, in all my desires, I always want to see Your will. Of myself, I would not want to die one minute sooner, or to live one minute longer, or to suffer less, or to suffer more, but I only want to do Your holy will. Although I have great enthusiasm, and the desires burning in my heart are immense, they are never above Your will.
1730 I fly to Your mercy, Compassionate God, who alone are good. Although my misery is great, and my offenses are many, I trust in Your mercy, because You are the God of mercy; and, from time immemorial, it has never been heard of, nor do heaven or earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your mercy has been disappointed.
O God of compassion, You alone can justify me, and You will never reject me when I, contrite, approach Your Merciful Heart, where no one has ever been refused, even if he were the greatest sinner.
1784 Today, in the course of a long
conversation, the Lord said to me, How very much I desire the salvation of
souls! My dearest secretary, write that I want to pour out My divine life into
human souls and sanctify them, if only they were willing to accept My grace.
The greatest sinners would achieve great sanctity, if only they would trust in
My mercy. The very inner depths of My being are filled to overflowing with mercy,
and it is being poured out upon all I have created. My delight is to act in a human
soul and to fill it with My mercy and to justify it. My kingdom on earth is My life
in the human soul. Write, My secretary, that I Myself am the spiritual guide of
souls-and I guide them indirectly through the priest, and lead each one to
sanctity by a road known to Me alone.
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-36, 83, 374, 496)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-660, 625, 635, 793, 825, 840, 895)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1074-1076)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-IV-1317, 1339)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1548)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1701-1703, 1712, 1722)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1728-1730, 1784)
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