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27 November 2016
The First Sunday of Advent (Mt 24:37-44)
We begin this time of Advent with a calling from the Lord to keep watch: We must be awake and ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour we do not expect. As a way of preparing for Jesus’ coming into our hearts on Christmas Day, we need to ask ourselves if we are truly ready to meet Him. Have we persevered in our good resolutions? Have we remained fervent in our prayer life? Have we been faithfully going to Mass, making regular confessions? Have we been diligent in carrying out works of mercy towards the needy? Now is the time for us to examine our consciences, to acknowledge our weaknesses, and to take concrete steps in self-improvement.
Saint that she was, Sr. Faustina knew the importance of keeping watch, and she tried to be ready at all times for that most critical of moments, when she would meet her Lord and Judge face to face. She wrote in her Diary:
I do not know, O Lord, at what hour You will come.And so I keep constant watch and listen, (...)Knowing that You like to come unexpected.Yet, a pure heart will sense You from afar, O Lord.(Diary 1589.
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, help me to purify my heart for Your coming into our world on Christmas Day. Give me special grace so that I can see where I have fallen short in my spiritual journey, and help me to make a good Advent confession. I trust in You. Amen.
20 November 2016
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Luke 23:35-43)
On this Solemnity of Christ the King we see Jesus crowned “King of the Jews” being scoffed at and tempted to use His divine power to save Himself and the criminals on the crosses next to His. However, as He had told Pilate that very morning, His kingdom is not of this world. He came into the world to bear witness to the truth, to the truth of God’s love for His sinful children. And this witness was so powerful that it brought the conversion and salvation of a criminal. Looking at Jesus stretched upon the cross, the thief learned how to forgive, and was able to prepare himself for the gift of paradise.
St. Faustina wrote down her own thoughts on this event: “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” (Diary 388). He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the Cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart” (Diary 390).
Prayer: Merciful Jesus, my King and my Lord, if You can promise Paradise to a dying thief, there must surely be hope for me. I repent of everything I have ever done to offend You, and I beg You for the grace to forgive all who have hurt me. Teach me to keep my eyes focused on the Cross so that I can better come to understand Your great love for me. Amen.
13 November 2016
The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 21:5-9)
Today’s Gospel is about the end times. Jesus warns about the coming plagues, famines and earthquakes, which we can actually see on the news each evening. He also tells that we Christians will be hated and persecuted for His sake. Just browsing the internet we can see that Christians everywhere are being imprisoned, mocked and even martyred for their faith. With all of these signs before us, we can wonder if we are not living in end times.
Jesus told St. Faustina about the end of the world: “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 Saviour 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” (Diary 83).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I know we are living in difficult times, but I need to remember that things are not as bad as they could be. Don’t let me get discouraged by the evil I see all around me. Help me to keep my focus on being always ready for You when You come again. Amen.
6 November 2016
The Solemnity of All Saints (Matthew 5:1-12a)
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount today, we once again hear the familiar words: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” We know that the measure we give will be the measure we receive, and we also know that if we fail to show mercy and pardon to others, we have no hope of receiving mercy or pardon from the Lord on the Last Day.
St. Faustina had the idea of forming a group of faithful Catholics who would make the pledge to pray daily and in addition, to be merciful on a daily basis. As members of this group, we will benefit from an unbeatable life insurance policy, an eternal life insurance policy! She wrote in her Diary: “A member of this group ought to perform at least one act of mercy a day; at least one, but there can be many more, for such deeds can easily be carried out by anyone, even the very poorest. For there are three ways of performing an act of mercy: the merciful word, by forgiving and by comforting; secondly, if you can offer no word, then pray-that too is mercy; and thirdly, deeds of mercy. And when the Last Day comes, we shall be judged from this, and on this basis we shall receive the eternal verdict” (Diary 1158).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I truly believe that by showing mercy to others here on earth, I will be assured of receiving Your mercy when I pass into eternity. Teach me to reach out to others in genuine, heartfelt mercy, and never allow me to just go through the motions in order to get a reward. Amen.