49 Angle Road, Walkerville
P.O. Box 378, Walkerville, 1876
Tel: 073 462 4937
walkerville.divinemercy@catholicjhb.org.za
30 August 2015
The Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23)
In today’s Gospel Jesus warns us about the evils that can come from within the human heart. A person who honours God with his lips is still capable of having a heart filled with hatred, lust and evil. We need to strive for purity of heart unless we want Jesus to call us “hypocrites” too. Often the human tongue can betray the heart by uttering blatant lies or even unnecessary or uncharitable words. We need to strive first of all for purity of heart, but since we are weak, we must also keep constant vigil over our tongues.
St. Faustina wrote : “At those times when I suffer much, I try to remain silent, as I do not trust my tongue which, at such moments, is inclined to talk for itself, while its duty is to help me praise God for all the blessings and gifts which He has given me” (Diary 92).
Prayer: Merciful Jesus, purify my heart, so that my thoughts may be pleasing to You. And help me to keep vigil over what I say, that I may never offend You with my tongue. Amen.
23 August 2015
The Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (John 6:60-69)
Simon Peter’s reply to Jesus in today’s Gospel, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” show us his genuine faith in Jesus, the Word made flesh and his trust in the words of Jesus, even when His words are incomprehensible on a human level, although they indeed are “Spirit and life.” Jesus was speaking about the Holy Eucharist before Its institution, and in a way He sounded little more than insane. For Peter and the other apostles to accept Jesus’ words took a great leap of faith and incredible trust.
Jesus told St. Faustina: “The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is—trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour out all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts” (Diary 1578).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, grant me the grace of boundless trust in You, who are Wisdom and Mercy itself. May I always believe and accept every word You speak to me through the Magisterium of Your Holy Church. Amen.
16 August 2015
The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jn 6:51-58)
In today’s Gospel Jesus once more elaborates on the gift of His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. He actually comes to live in us at Holy Communion, and only leaves us when we drive Him out by sin. If we feed on Him, receiving Him frequently and worthily in Holy Communion, He Himself guards us in holiness and grants us special graces to keep from offending Him by sin.
St. Faustina understood the gift of the Holy Eucharist very well, as we can see by reading the following words written by her: “Thank You, O Jesus, for Holy Communion in which You give us Yourself. I feel Your Heart beating within my breast as You cause Your divine life to unfold within me.” (Diary 1286). “The most solemn moment of my life is the moment when I receive Holy Communion. I long for each Holy Communion, and for every Holy Communion I give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity” (Diary 1804).
Prayer: Merciful Lord, You gave us the gift of the Holy Eucharist because You desire to dwell in our hearts in a relationship of divine love. Thank You, Lord Jesus! Purify our hearts and make us truly worthy of so great a gift. Amen.
9 August 2015
The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jn 6:41-51)
Jesus reminds us again today of His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. He gives His Flesh for the life of the world, for each one of us, that we might one day have eternal life—but for another reason as well: He wants us to enjoy a taste heaven already here on earth.
The gift of the Holy Eucharist is the most priceless treasure the Church possesses, yet we so seldom consider how privileged we are as Catholics to have ready access to the Living God Himself. Jesus told St. Faustina: “Oh, how painful it is to Me that souls so seldom unite themselves to Me in Holy Communion. I wait for souls, and they are indifferent toward Me. I love them tenderly and sincerely, and they distrust Me. I want to lavish My graces on them, and they do not want to accept them...” (Diary 1447).
Prayer: Most Merciful Jesus, so generous in Your love for me, giving me Your very self even when I treat you with indifference and apathy, teach me to treasure each encounter with you as a fresh chance to bask in Your love and mercy. Mary, my Mother, help me to make your Son and His presence in the Holy Eucharist the very centre of my life. Amen.
2 August 2015
The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jn 6:24-35)
This Sunday the readings are about the manna the Israelites ate in the desert and the true Bread from Heaven which Jesus promised to give—the Bread of Life, which we are privileged to receive at every Mass we attend. We often take for granted this gift, this “food that endures to eternal life,” the “bread of God which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Jesus told Saint Faustina about the pain He experiences when people receive Holy Communion into cold hearts: “I desire to unite Myself with human souls; My great delight is to unite Myself with souls. Know, My daughter, that when I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay any attention to Me; they leave Me to Myself and busy themselves with other things. Oh, how sad I am that souls do not recognize Love! They treat Me as a dead object.” (Diary 1385).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, forgive me for all the times I have received You in Holy Communion and then left You on Your own. I know I am often preoccupied with worldly cares when I come to Mass. Help me to keep focused on You and to work to develop a more living relationship with You, as between two friends. Amen.