Sharing in the Labor of the Father’s Vineyard
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December 13, 2016. Memorial of Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr
Father James Swanson, LC
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Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the
chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion?
A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
Introductory Prayer:
Father, here I am
before You, ready to open my heart to You. I believe that You are my God, my
Creator. I am confident that You are leading me home to You day by day. You
wish to draw me closer to You, because You have given me Your only Son as my
Redeemer. I love You and wish to cooperate with Your loving designs for my
salvation and the salvation of countless souls. Here I am, Lord, to do Your
will!
Petition: Lord, help me to cooperate generously in Your
work of salvation.
1. Saying “Yes, But
No.” It seems that the
longer we have been following Jesus, the more we are like the second son in
the parable. We have said “Yes” to God. Our intention is to follow him, but
in the end, we don’t seem to follow him very well. We come up short. Then we
renew our resolutions to follow him more closely, and before long, we catch
ourselves once again using up our time on ourselves and doing very little for
him. What’s wrong? We don’t truly want to be like the second son, who said
“Yes” only with his lips. In what aspect of my life am I saying, “Yes, but
no”?
2. Doing the Bare
Minimum: Isn´t at least part
of the problem that Jesus doesn´t come first in our lives? Since we live in a
world where many follow him lukewarmly––if at all––, it´s easy to think we
are doing a wonderful, even exceptional, job with the way we practice our
faith. It’s easy to think this way even when we´re doing little more than the
bare minimum, or perhaps living with a fatal flaw in some basic virtue like
charity or purity. What if we were evaluated in our Christianity the way we
would be evaluated for a job? Would we keep that job if we never worried
about doing more than the bare minimum, or if we lacked one of the basic
skills needed for it? Why do I think I can get away with shoddy work when it
comes to Jesus? Do I forget that God the Father invites me to work in his
vineyard, the Church, not as a servant, but as his son/daughter?
3. I Am Crucial for
the Salvation of Souls: Following
Jesus is the single most important thing I have to do in my life. It is more
important than any job I could ever have. He has given me a mission in my
life similar to his own mission. Our Lord wishes me to earn graces not only
for myself but for many souls out there whom I may never even know. These
graces could be crucial for the salvation of many souls. Certainly, if I am
married, my spouse and children would be the first ones to benefit from the
graces I gain through my prayers, good works and sacrifices. But in addition,
I have no way of knowing how many others will depend on my holiness. I need
to be ready at any time to bear witness to Jesus and to be a faithful instrument
of his grace for whomever he places in my life.
Conversation with
Christ: Dear Jesus, I am
preparing myself to celebrate the beginning of Your mission of salvation.
Help me to understand the importance of the part of Your mission You have
entrusted to me, so I can live it well as You hope I will. Help me to be more
faithful to the daily living of my Christian life and to give witness to You
in all situations. Help me to guide others to You with real Christian
charity, not pride, so they will not be repelled by my behavior, but drawn to
You. Help me to be the light to my family that You want me always to be.
Resolution: What part of my mission do I do the most
poorly? I will take some time to think about how I will accomplish it better
today and put it into action.
Excerpts from the
DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
1 O Eternal Love,
You command Your Sacred Image [1] to be painted
And reveal to us the
inconceivable fount of mercy,
You bless whoever
approaches Your rays,
And a soul all black
will turn into snow.
O sweet Jesus, it is
here [2] You established the throne of Your mercy
To bring joy and
hope to sinful man.
From Your open
Heart, as from a pure fount,
Flows comfort to a
repentant heart and soul.
May praise and glory
for this Image
Never cease to
stream from man's soul.
May praise of God's
mercy pour from every heart,
Now, and at every
hour, and forever and ever.
282 Once the Lord
said to me, My Heart was moved by great mercy towards you, My dearest
child, when I saw you torn to shreds because of the great pain you suffered
in repenting for your sins. I see your love, so pure and true that I give you
first place among the virgins. You are the honor and glory of My Passion. I
see every abasement of your soul, and nothing escapes my attention. I lift up
the humble even to my very throne, because I want it so.
388 See what grace
and reflection made out of the greatest criminal. He who is dying has much
love: "Remember me when You are in paradise." Heartfelt repentance
immediately transforms the soul. The spiritual life is to be lived earnestly
and sincerely.
423 Praise the Lord,
my soul, for everything, and glorify His mercy, for His goodness is without
end. Everything will pass, but His mercy is without limit or end. And
although evil will attain its measure, in mercy there is no measure.
O my God, even in the punishments You send down upon the earth I see the abyss of Your mercy, for by punishing us here on earth You free us from eternal punishment. Rejoice, all you creatures, for you are closer to God in His infinite mercy than a baby to its mother's heart. O God, You are compassion itself for the greatest sinners who sincerely repent. The greater the sinner, the greater his right to God's mercy.
717 All night long,
I was preparing to receive Holy Communion, since I could not sleep because of
physical suffering. My soul was flooded with love and repentance.
852 Today the Lord's
gaze shot through me suddenly, like lightning. At once, I came to know the
tiniest specks in my soul, and knowing the depths of my misery, I fell to my
knees and begged the Lord's pardon, and with great trust I immersed myself in
His infinite mercy. Such knowledge does not depress me nor keep me away from
the Lord, but rather it arouses in my soul greater love and boundless trust.
The repentance of my heart is linked to love. These extraordinary flashes
from the Lord educate my soul. O sweet rays of God, enlighten me to the most
secret depth, for I want to arrive at the greatest possible purity of heart
and soul.
908 + O Jesus, how
sorry I feel for poor sinners. Jesus, grant them contrition and repentance.
Remember Your own sorrowful Passion. I know Your infinite mercy and cannot
bear it that a soul that has cost You so much should perish. Jesus, give me
the souls of sinners; let Your mercy rest upon them. Take everything away
from me, but give me souls. I want to become a sacrificial host for sinners.
Let the shell of my body conceal my offering, for Your Most Sacred Heart is
also hidden in a Host, and certainly You are a living sacrifice.
Transform me into
Yourself, O Jesus, that I may be a living sacrifice and pleasing to You. I
desire to atone at each moment for poor sinners. The sacrifice of my spirit
is hidden under the veil of the body; the human eye does not perceive it, and
for that reason it is pure and pleasing to You. O my Creator and Father of
great mercy, I trust in You, for You are Goodness Itself. Souls, do not be
afraid of God, but trust in Him, for He is good, and His mercy is
everlasting.
934 Small practices
for Lent. Although I wish and desire to do so, I cannot practice big
mortifications as before, because I am under the strict surveillance of the
doctor. But I can practice little things: first-sleep without a pillow; keep
myself a little hungry; every day, with my arms outstretched, say the chaplet
which the Lord taught me; occasionally, with arms outstretched, for an
indefinite period of time pray informally. Intention: to beg divine mercy for
poor sinners, and for priests, the power to bring sinful hearts to
repentance.
1052 O my Jesus, I
beg You on behalf of the whole Church: Grant it love and the light of Your
Spirit, and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might
be brought to repentance and return to You, O Lord. Lord, give us holy
priests; You yourself maintain them in holiness. O Divine and Great High
Priest, may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect
them from the devil's traps and snares which are continually being set for
the souls of priests. May the power of Your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring
to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priests, for You can do all
things.
1248 I experience a
desire to make reparation to the Lord Jesus in a way which corresponds [to
the offense]. Today I wore a chain belt for seven hours in order to obtain
the grace of repentance for that soul. In the seventh hour I felt relief as
the soul experienced interiorly the remission of its sin, although it had not
yet gone to confession. For sins of the flesh, I mortify the body and fast to
the degree that I am permitted. For sins of pride, I pray with my forehead
touching the floor. For sins of hatred, I pray and do some good deed for a
person whom I find difficult. And thus I make amends according to the nature
of the sin of which I am aware.
1489 Conversation of
the Merciful God with a Perfect Soul.
Soul: My Lord and
Master, I desire to converse with You.
Jesus: Speak,
My beloved child, for I am always listening. I wait for you. What do you
desire to say?
Soul: Lord, first
let me pour out my heart at Your feet in a fragrant anointing of gratitude
for the many blessings which You lavish upon me; even if I wanted to, I could
not count them. I only recall that there has never been a moment in my life
in which I have not experienced Your protection and goodness.
Jesus: Your
words please Me, and your thanksgiving opens up new treasures of graces. But,
My child, we should talk in more detail about the things that lie in your
heart. Let us talk confidentially and frankly, as two hearts that love one
another do.
Soul: O my merciful
Lord, there are secrets in my heart which no one knows or will ever know
except You because, even if I wanted to reveal them, no one would understand
me. Your minister knows some because I confess to him, but he knows only the
bit of these mysteries that I am capable of revealing; the rest remains
between us for eternity, O My Lord! You have covered me with the cloak of
Your mercy, pardoning my sins. Not once did You refuse Your pardon; You
always had pity on me, giving me a new life of grace. To prevent doubts, You
have entrusted me to the loving care of Your Church, that tender mother, who
in Your name assures me of the truths of faith and watches lest I wander.
Especially in the tribunal of Your mercy does my soul meet an ocean of
favors, though You did not give the Fallen Angels time to repent or prolong
their time of mercy. O my Lord, you have provided saintly priests to show me
the sure way. Jesus, there is one more secret in my life, the deepest and
dearest to my heart: it is You yourself when You come to my heart under the
appearance of bread. Herein lies the whole secret of my sanctity. Here my
heart is so united with Yours as to be but one. There are no more secrets,
because all that is Yours is mine, and all that is mine is Yours. Such is the
omnipotence and the miracle of Your mercy. All the tongues of men and of
angels united could not find words adequate to this mystery of Your love and
mercy.
When I contemplate
this mystery, my heart falls into a new ecstasy. In silence I tell You
everything, Lord, because the language of love is without words; not a single
stirring of my heart escapes You. O Lord, the extent of Your great
condescension has awakened in my soul an even greater love for You, the sole
object of my love. The life of union manifests itself in perfect purity, deep
humility, gentle silence, and great zeal for the salvation of souls.
O my sweetest Lord,
You watch over me each moment and inspire me as to how I should act in a
precise situation, when my heart wavers between two things. You yourself
frequently intervened in the resolution of a difficulty. Countless times, by
means of a sudden enlightenment, You have given me to know what is the more
pleasing to You.
Oh, how numerous are
the instances of forgiveness about which no one knows! How often You have
poured into my soul courage and perseverance to go forward. It is You
yourself who removed obstacles from my road, intervening directly in the
actions of people. O Jesus, everything I have said to You is but a pale
shadow of what is taking place in my heart. O my Jesus, how ardently I desire
the conversion of sinners! You know what I am doing for them to win them for
You. Every offense against You wounds me deeply. I spare neither strength,
nor health, nor life itself in defense of Your kingdom. Although my efforts
may remain invisible on earth, they are no less valuable in Your eyes.
O Jesus, I want to
bring souls to the fount of Your mercy to draw the reviving water of life
with the vessel of trust. The soul desirous of more of God's mercy should
approach God with greater trust; and if her trust in God is unlimited, then
the mercy of God toward it will be likewise limitless. O my God, Who know
every beat of my heart, You know how eagerly I desire that all hearts would
beat for You alone, that every soul glorify the greatness of Your mercy.
Jesus: My
beloved child, delight of My Heart, your words are dearer and more pleasing
to me than the angelic chorus. All the treasures of My Heart are open to you.
Take from this Heart all that you need for yourself and for the whole world.
For the sake of your love, I withhold the just chastisements, which mankind
has deserved. A single act of pure love pleases Me more than a thousand
imperfect prayers. One of your sighs of love atones for many offenses with
which the godless overwhelm Me. The smallest act of virtue has unlimited
value in My eyes because of your great love for Me. In a soul that lives on
My love alone, I reign as in heaven. I watch over it day and night. In it I
find My happiness; My ear is attentive to each request of its heart; often I
anticipate its requests. O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye,
rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight
for all eternity.
But child, you are
not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My
kingdom in human souls; fight as a king's child would; and remember that the
days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of
earning merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of
souls who will glorify My mercy for all eternity. My child, that you may
answer My call worthily, receive Me daily in Holy Communion. It will give you
strength...
Jesus, do not leave
me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am. I am an abyss of
wretchedness, I am nothingness itself; so what will be so strange if You
leave me alone and I fall? I am an infant, Lord, so I cannot get along by
myself. However, beyond all abandonment I trust, and in spite of my own
feeling I trust, and I am being completely transformed into trust-often in
spite of what I feel. Do not lessen any of my sufferings, only give me
strength to bear them. Do with me as You please, Lord, only give me the grace
to be able to love You in every event and circumstance. Lord, do not lessen
my cup of bitterness, only give me strength that I may be able to drink it
all.
O Lord, sometimes
You lift me up to the brightness of visions, and then again You plunge me
into the darkness of night and the abyss of my nothingness, and my soul feels
as if it were alone in the wilderness. Yet, above all things, I trust in You,
Jesus, for You are unchangeable. My moods change, but You are always the
same, full of mercy.
1521 The Lord said
to me, My daughter, do not tire of proclaiming My mercy. In this way
you will refresh this Heart of Mine, which burns with a flame of pity for
sinners. Tell My priests that hardened sinners will repent on hearing their
words when they speak about My unfathomable mercy, about the compassion I
have for them in My Heart. To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will
give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those
to whom they will speak.
1698 l often attend
upon the dying and through entreaties obtain for them trust in God's mercy,
and I implore God for an abundance of divine grace, which is always
victorious. God's mercy sometimes touches the sinner at the last moment in a
wondrous and mysterious way. Outwardly, it seems as if everything were lost,
but it is not so. The soul, illumined by a ray of God's powerful final grace,
turns to God in the last moment with such a power of love that, in an
instant, it receives from God forgiveness of sin and punishment, while
outwardly it shows no sign either of repentance or of contrition, because
souls [at that stage] no longer react to external things. Oh, how beyond
comprehension is God's mercy! But-horror!- there are also souls who
voluntarily and consciously reject and scorn this grace! Although a person is
at the point of death, the merciful God gives the soul that interior vivid
moment, so that if the soul is willing, it has the possibility of returning
to God. But sometimes, the obduracy in souls is so great that consciously
they choose hell; they [thus] make useless all the prayers that other souls
offer to God for them and even the efforts of God Himself...
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...
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.
1766 During this
reading, my soul was filled with deep repentance. I saw all the ingratitude
of creatures toward their Creator and Lord; I asked God to protect me from spiritual
blindness.
(Diary of Sister
Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-282, 388, 423)
(Diary of Sister
Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-717, 852, 908, 934)
(Diary of Sister
Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1052)
(Diary of Sister
Faustina Kowalska Notebook-IV-1248)
(Diary of Sister
Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1489, 1521)
(Diary of Sister
Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1698, 1702, 1728, 1766)
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Disyembre 13, 2016
Sharing in the Labor of the Father’s Vineyardl-Divine Mercy Miracles Meditations
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