49 Angle Road, Walkerville
P.O. Box 378, Walkerville, 1876
Tel: 073 462 4937
walkerville.divinemercy@catholicjhb.org.za
26 April 2015
The Fourth Sunday of Easter (John 10:11-18)
In today’s Gospel Jesus reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for us, the sheep, through His own choice. No one forces Jesus into anything. The sacrifice of His life is entirely voluntary, and His one and only motive is love.
Each one of us is called to imitate Jesus in voluntary sacrifice. St. Faustina wrote: “It is only by means of sacrifice that souls can become useful. It is my self-sacrifice which, in my relationship with my neighbour, can give glory to God, but God’s love must flow through this sacrifice, because everything is concentrated in this love and takes its value from it” (Diary 1358). She also wrote: “I feel that a fire is burning within me, and I understand no other life but that of sacrifice, which flows from pure love” (Diary 784).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, where is my zeal for the salvation of souls? Where is my love for You and my neighbour? Teach me generous self-sacrifice motivated by pure love, so that I can be useful to the Church. Teach me to lay down my life for my brothers and sisters. Amen.
19 April 2015
The Third Sunday of Easter (Luke 24:35-48)
We all know the Image of the Divine Mercy, which shows Jesus revealing Himself to His disciples on Easter morning in the upper room. If we look at Jesus’ slightly raised right arm, we see the gesture of blessing, as He says to his terrified disciples: “Peace be with you!”
The biblical word for peace, “shalom,” also means “the kindness and goodness of God; God’s blessing; happiness and prosperity.” This word was a common greeting among the Jewish people, and it often appears in the Bible. The Resurrected Jesus greeted His apostles with that word, and He greets us with it as well. His words “Peace be with you” impart to us the goodness and blessing of God.
Jesus Resurrected is the source of all peace. He spoke these words to St. Faustina, “Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart and I will fill it with peace. (…) 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” (Diary 1074). “Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy” (Diary 300).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I thank You for the beautiful gift of Your peace. Help me to bear witness each day to the power of Your Resurrection, and to radiate Your graces to everyone I meet. Amen.
12 April 2015
Divine Mercy Sunday (John 20:19-31)
In today’s Gospel Jesus appears to the disciples after His resurrection speaking to them words of peace. He shows them His sacred wounds—not meaning to condemn them for their sins which caused Him to suffer, but wanting to reveal to them the depths of His mercy. He told St. Faustina: “From all My wounds, like from streams, mercy flows for souls, but the wound in My Heart is the fountain of unfathomable mercy. From this fountain spring all graces for souls. The flames of compassion burn Me. I desire greatly to pour them out upon souls” (Diary 1190).
On today’s Feast of Mercy Jesus wants us to implore His mercy for those most in need. He told St. Faustina: “On the day of My feast, the Feast of Mercy, you will go through the whole world and bring fainting souls to the spring of My mercy. I shall heal and strengthen them” (Diary 206). Let us do just this, bring the Lord all the fainting souls we can find. Let us take advantage of the torrents of His grace. Today “all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened” (Diary 699).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I am in great need of Your mercy. Have mercy on me, a sinner. I bring You my whole family, all my neighbours, my acquaintances, those who are the farthest away from You and I beg You to embrace them all with Your infinite mercy and draw all of them to Yourself, for you can do all things. Amen.
5 April 2015
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord (Mark 16:1-7)
Having faithfully completed our observance of Lent, today we enter into the joy of the Resurrection. The Church often reminds us that the Lord will allow us know the joy of Easter in proportion to the efforts we put forth in prayer, fasting and almsgiving during the holy season of Lent. Hopefully, today every Christian is experiencing boundless joy, a true foretaste of Heaven.
St. Faustina wrote in her Diary: “Today during the Resurrection Mass I saw the Lord Jesus in the midst of a great light. He approached me and said, Peace be to you, My children, and He lifted up His hand and gave His blessing. The wounds in His hands, feet and side were indelible and shining. When He looked at me with such kindness and love, my whole soul drowned itself in Him. And He said to me, have taken a great part in My Passion; therefore I now give you a great share in My joy and glory. The whole time of the Resurrection [Mass] seemed like only a minute to me. (…) The kindness of Jesus is so great that I cannot express it.” (Diary 205).St. Faustina wrote in her Diary: “Today during the Resurrection Mass I saw the Lord Jesus in the midst of a great light. He approached me and said, Peace be to you, My children, and He lifted up His hand and gave His blessing. The wounds in His hands, feet and side were indelible and shining. When He looked at me with such kindness and love, my whole soul drowned itself in Him. And He said to me, You have taken a great part in My Passion; therefore I now give you a great share in My joy and glory. The whole time of the Resurrection [Mass] seemed like only a minute to me. (…) The kindness of Jesus is so great that I cannot express it.” (Diary 205).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I thank You for suffering the Passion and for dying on the Cross for my sins. And now You have given me a share in the joy of Your Resurrection. Allow me to show You my gratitude by spreading that joy everywhere and by sharing it with everyone I meet. Amen.