49 Angle Road, Walkerville
P.O. Box 378, Walkerville, 1876
Tel: 073 462 4937
walkerville.divinemercy@catholicjhb.org.za
2 July 2017
The Thirteenth Sunday of in Ordinary Time (Matthew 10:37-42)
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus reminds us again about the need to take up our cross and follow Him. We are not worthy of Him if we love our father or mother, our son or daughter, more than Him; we are not worthy of Him if we choose to follow after the worldly way that any human being might offer, even if that person be our closest relative. The only way for a Christian is the way of the cross, walking in the footsteps of Jesus. And that is the way that brings us joy and peace in the midst of every challenge or suffering, for Jesus, then, is always close to us, carrying us and supporting us.
St. Faustina understood the value of every cross, and the eternal merit of every suffering we endure. She wrote: “True love is measured by the thermometer of suffering. Jesus, I thank You for the little daily crosses, for opposition to my endeavors, for the hardships of communal life, for the misinterpretation of my intentions, for humiliations at the hands of others, for the harsh way in which we are treated, for false suspicions, for poor health and loss of strength, for self-denial, for dying to myself, for lack of recognition in everything, for the upsetting of all my plans” (Diary 343).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I desire to follow You wherever You may lead. I know that the difficulties You allow are but opportunities for me to show my love for You. Help me to embrace each and every cross, however small or heavy they may be, and, with Your help, to persevere to the end in carrying them. Amen.
9 July 2017
The Fourteenth Sunday of in Ordinary Time (Matthew 11:25-30)
This week’s Gospel shows us Jesus, meek and humble of heart, spontaneously praising the Father for having revealed His secrets to the simple. Those who are learned and sophisticated end up missing out. Riding on their high horse, as far as they are concerned, they already know everything that’s worth knowing. Jesus, on the other hand, although He is King, doesn’t consider Himself above riding on a donkey--today's First Reading reminds us. He isn’t out to impress anyone. And He rejoices that there are simple souls who want to learn the mysteries of the Kingdom.
St. Faustina was one such soul. She was humble, and so totally dependent on Jesus that He chose to manifest Himself to her in visions, often appearing scorned and humiliated as He was treated during His Passion. In one place Faustina wrote: “The Lord Jesus appeared as He was during the scourging. (...) He said to me: ‘Fix your eyes upon Me and live according to what you see. I desire that you penetrate into My spirit more deeply and understand that I am meek and humble of heart’” (Diary 526).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, form my poor heart after the model of Your Sacred Heart. Teach me genuine humility and meekness. Amen.
16 July 2017
The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 13:1-23)
Today’s parable of the sower reminds us that our hearts are soil. And the kind of soil our hearts are, will determine the way in which the Word of God is able to work in us and bear fruit. At every Mass we attend, a certain Word has been carefully selected to bring us into a deeper relationship with God. If we ignore the Word at even one Mass, we are squandering the opportunity not only to grow in our relationship with Him, but to respond actively to the Word in our relationships with others.
As members of His Body, we all either help or hinder others in getting closer to God. St. Faustina wrote: “Now I can be wholly useful to the Church by my personal sanctity, which throbs with life in the whole Church, for we all make up one organism in Jesus. That is why I endeavour to make the soil of my heart bear good fruit. Although the human eye may perhaps never see it, there will nevertheless come a day when it will become apparent that many souls have been fed and will continue to be fed with this fruit” (Diary 1364).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gift of Your living Word, with its power to transform me. Soften my hard heart with the water of Your Holy Spirit, that I may be able to receive Your Word with openness and bear the fruits of good works and holiness of life. Amen.
23 July 2017
The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 13:24-43)
Today’s Gospel is about the kingdom of heaven, and what it’s like. Jesus compares it to a good seed that grew up among weeds; to a grain of mustard seed that grew from the tiniest seed into a huge tree; like leaven which made a whole batch of dough rise.
Speaking as He does in parables, Jesus gives food for thought, although doesn’t reveal the whole meaning of His kingdom. His kingdom is present in every place that heaven is being experienced here on earth. Where people are serving others in selfless love, there is God’s kingdom. Where enemies are being reconciled with each other, there is God’s kingdom. Where the Gospel is being preached and people are coming to know the Lord and experiencing His mercy, there is God’s kingdom. Jesus told St. Faustina: “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” (Diary 1784).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, You are good and forgiving, and so I am not scared to ask for Your mercy. May Your kingdom come in my heart and soul. I want to experience heaven in my relationship with You already here on earth. Thank You, Lord Jesus! Amen.
30 July 2017
The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 13:44-52)
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure.” These words of our Lord referring to a treasure chest dug up in a field allow us to reflect on what we consider our treasures to be. The law of the Lord means more than large quantities of silver and gold, today’s psalmist claims. If we are striving to live in a way that will get us into heaven, then God’s law is certainly a big help. Indeed, whatever assists us in the struggle should be considered a priceless treasure, even when, on an earthly level, it may appear like something to be avoided.
St. Faustina held Jesus as her only treasure, and so she understood the value of enduring all things for Him. She wrote: “Sufferings, adversities, humiliations, failures and suspicions that have come my way are splinters that keep alive the fire of my love for You, O Jesus. (...) I want never to be rewarded for my efforts and my good actions. You yourself, Jesus, are my only reward; You are enough, O Treasure of my heart! I want to share compassionately in the sufferings of my neighbours and to conceal my own sufferings, not only from them, but also from You, Jesus. Suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul becomes like the Saviour; in suffering love becomes crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the love” (Diary 57).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I want You as my only Treasure. I ask You to give me the grace to cherish Your commands and to follow all of them with love. You may not ever call me to become like You through suffering, but allow me anyway, to become like You in love. Amen.