Reflection 217: The Lazy and Idle Soul

We please the evil one when we allow our souls to become lazy and idle in the things of God.  An idle soul is one that does not seek to engage the life of God.  An idle soul is one who is passive in spiritual things rather than active.  Being “passive,” means that the person is somewhat indifferent to matters of faith and morality.  There is little interest in these areas and, as a result, very little effort is given to them.  Do not delight the evil one by being idle in your spiritual life.  Become zealous, passionate, hard working, diligent and committed to the path of holiness.  Seek to meet our Lord, personally, through a life of generous self-surrender to Him.  And never tire of doing so with all the powers of your soul (See Diary #1127).

What are you passionate about?  For example, do you have some hobby or pastime?  Do you have some activity that you love doing and spend much time with?  Though a hobby can be healthy, your greatest “pastime” should be that of seeking God and serving His holy Will.  Nothing in life should take up more time and focus than your love of God.  Reflect upon how determined you are in your life of faith.  How committed are you to building a relationship with your merciful Lord?  Are you idle or lazy in this area?  Renew your zeal for God and allow that zeal to guide you into an ever deepening relationship with your Lord.  Give Him more than an hour a week and you will reap the blessings of your commitment. 

Lord, I want to be holy.  However, I realize that I do not desire holiness enough, preferring instead to be idle and lazy at times.  Please increase my zeal and my desire to come to know You more.  And as I grow in a deeper love for You, magnify that love and help it to continue growing in an exponential way.  May I never tire of seeking You and loving You, dear Lord.  I give you my life.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: man raising both hands, by Nathan Dumlao 

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Reflection 216: Clarity of Mind through Authentic Love

Our Church sets before us many teachings that can only be understood by grace.  Some teachings are about morality, calling us to a life of great virtue.  Some teachings are about God, His very being and essence.  Some teachings are about humanity and bring clarity to who we are.  What’s important to understand is that nothing that the Church teaches can be fully understood without love.  Love is like a window inserted into a brick wall surrounding the many truths revealed to us by God.  Unless we find that window and peer through, we are left unaware of all that God wishes to teach us each day.  Love of God and love of others enables us to quickly make sense of the greatest mysteries of life.  Through love, our minds perceive and clarify life itself and all that God wishes to reveal to us in faith.  Choose to love God and others with a spiritual, selfless and sacrificial love, and allow that love to become the source of your understanding in life (See Diary #1123).

What is it that causes you the greatest confusion?  Is there some article of faith taught by the Church that you do not understand?  Or perhaps there is confusion over a relationship you have, not knowing how to approach it or to resolve some underlying problem.  Whatever it is that you find difficult to “solve,” know that your answer will come only when you choose to love God and others with a pure love, the love of Mercy.  This is not a selfish love based on your feelings, but is a sacrificial and selfless love that imitates Jesus and His Cross.  Commit to this love and you will quickly and easily comprehend the mysteries of life.

Lord, please enlighten me.  Help me to realize that pure and holy love opens the door to the mysteries of life.  May I open that door through my love of You, and discover all that You wish to teach me.  This is a Mercy for which I am eternally grateful.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: The Charity of St Antoninus, by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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Reflection 215: The Freedom to Choose

In one sense we can say that God imposes upon us an obligation to turn to Him with our whole being and receive His Mercy.  He also imposes upon us the obligation to spread His Mercy to others.  But we must understand that this is no ordinary “obligation.”  It’s an obligation of love.  This means that the “imposition” of this obligation is no imposition at all.  It is something that God gives us complete freedom to choose or reject.  There are no strings attached, no forms of force; rather, we are left in complete freedom to choose or not to choose to accept and bestow the Mercy of God.  This freedom is essential to our lives and is essential to the gift of God’s Mercy.  Only by giving us this freedom can we fully cooperate with this gift because Mercy must be freely given and freely received.  If it is not, then it is not Mercy.  Be grateful for the freedom the Lord has given you and use it to make a glorious choice (See Diary #1115).

Reflect, today, upon these two gifts God has given you.  First, reflect upon the gift of freedom.  In having free will, you are able to make your own choices in life.  As a result, you also either reap the blessings of the choices you make, or suffer the consequences.  Reflect, also, upon the fact that you are invited by God to accept and distribute His abundant gift of Mercy.  By freely choosing this gift, you invite the God of the Universe to descend from His Throne of Grace and embrace you with an embrace of pure love, enabling you to offer that embrace to others.

Lord, I give You my life and freely choose to receive all the Mercy of Your most Sacred Heart.  Help me to be open to all that You wish to bestow, and help me to be open to bestow all that You wish to offer others.  I thank You, Lord, for these glorious gifts of freedom and Mercy and I choose Your Mercy with all my heart.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: Sacred Heart of Jesus, by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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Reflection 214: A Complete Pardon

Imagine that you were guilty of a serious crime and faced life in prison.  You were sorry for what you had done and fully confessed to it.  On the day of your sentencing you came in handcuffed from where you were being held knowing that you would soon return.  Instead, the judge ordered that your shackles be removed, that you were to receive a full pardon and that you were being granted a complete restoration to your former life.  Certainly you would be filled with gratitude.  But we must realize that God has not only done this, He has done even more. He also elevates us the status as His sons and daughters, a new status that we do not deserve in the order of grace.  The Mercy of God is amazing and beyond what we can comprehend.  All we have to do is repent and entrust ourselves to the benevolence of this good Judge.  This is especially done through Confession and trusting in the abundance of Mercy offered to those who specifically go to Confession in honor of Divine Mercy Sunday (See Diary #1109).

Can you admit to your sin?  Are you aware of your sin?  If so, then you are one step away from receiving a full pardon from the Most Merciful Judge.  God longs to not only wipe away your sins, He also longs to elevate you to the glorious heights of Mercy.  Do you want this?  If so, do not hesitate in believing in the glorious Sacrament of Confession, and do not hesitate to trust in His Mercy poured out on Divine Mercy Sunday each year.  Seek His pardon, especially on that glorious day.

Lord, give me the grace of knowing my sins and confessing them in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  May I have great courage to face Your Mercy in that Sacrament so as to be elevated to the glorious status of Your sons and daughters.  And may I especially trust in the Mercy You bestow on Divine Mercy Sunday.  Thank You for the graces bestowed on this most holy day.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: Denobili, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Reflection 213: The Spiritual Gift of Understanding

Do you understand the mysteries of God?  Imagine that you were a theologian who studied the faith of our Church for many years.  Would knowledge of all the theological disciplines of our Church necessarily produce in you an authentic understanding of these mysteries that were studied?  No, it wouldn’t necessarily produce understanding.  In fact, it is entirely possible that while knowing all about God and all that has been revealed through the ages, you still might lack an authentic understanding of God and the profound mysteries of our faith.  Understanding ultimately comes as a gift from God.  It’s an infused gift which illumines and enlightens and is obtainable only by a direct and personal revelation from God.  Yes, study of the faith and attentiveness to clear articulation of this same faith disposes one to understand, but the inspired gift of Understanding is still required to penetrate and grasp all mysteries of our faith.  Understanding is a true gift of God’s Mercy (See Diary #1107).

Reflect upon your own understanding of the infinite Mercy of God.  How fully do you comprehend this Mercy?  Reflect upon all that God has revealed to us throughout history.  He has spoken definitively through Scripture and has also spoken definitively through His Church in numerous ways.  Reflect upon how fully you grasp all the articles of our faith that have been revealed through the ages.  God has spoken in a clear and public way.  Now He desires to speak those same truths to you in the depths of your soul.  If you are willing to listen, your understanding will open the floodgates of the Mercy of God.

Lord, there are so many truths that I do not fully grasp.  Your life and Your workings are glorious and mysterious all at once.  Give me the grace of Understanding so that I may penetrate the depths of Your Truth and Your Mercy.  I open myself to You, dear Lord.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: Saint Jerome in his study,, by Workshop of Marinus van Reymerswaele

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Reflection 212: Overcoming Doubt

What is “doubt?”  To doubt is to lack faith, and to lack faith is to lack trust in the perfect revelation and plan of God’s Will.  First and foremost, a doubt, resulting from a lack of faith, means you are not listening.  When we doubt God, His plan and all that He reveals to us, we are left on our own.  But when we listen, hear, understand and believe, we are covered in the protection of His Mercy on account of the faith that we manifest.  Faith means that we know with certainty all that God says and wills.  Faith is not just believing in something we hope is true, it’s knowing and believing all that is true (See Diary #1101).

Do you doubt at times?  Or do you have faith?  This is an exceptionally important question to ponder.  Begin by asking yourself these questions:  Do I listen to the Voice of God?  Do I hear God speak to me and do I comprehend all that He says?  Without these first steps, faith is impossible.  Hearing Him speak can only come through prayer.  And the form of prayer we need could be called “soaking prayer.”  Soaking prayer is a form of prayer by which we allow ourselves to daily become immersed in the Voice of God revealing His holy Will.  He speaks to us all day, every day.  Little by little we listen, comprehend and respond.  This produces the gift of faith and that faith will lead your life.  Reflect upon this process in your life and renew your commitment to start at the beginning so that the Lord will lead you one step at a time.

Dear Lord, I desire to hear You speak to me.  Help me to open my ears to hear so that I may know You and discern Your perfect Will for my life.  I desire to be led each day only by You and to trust in the gentle guidance of Your holy Will.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: A Woman Praying, by Willem de Poorter

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Reflection 211: Close to the Mother of God

A mother’s love could be described as “fierce” in the sense that she would willingly give her life for the protection of her children.  A motherly instinct kicks in when her child is in danger, hurting, or in need, and she loses all sense of her own well-being in favor of the protection of her child.  So it is with the Mother of God.  You are her child by grace and by the Will of Jesus her Son.  As a result, she holds you close to her heart in times of need and shelters you in her mantle of protection.  This motherly love is offered even when you are not in harm’s way as a result of her unwavering motherly care.  She is an advocate for you like none other.  And she is not only your mother; she is also the Mother of God.  And as the Mother of God, she obtains special graces for all her children from her Divine Son.  He answers every request she makes on your behalf and will never abandon you.  Stay close to her, nestled in her arms of Mercy (See Diary #1097).

Have you consecrated yourself to the love, care and protection of the Mother of God?  If not, why not?  What are you waiting for?  Does it confuse you why you should trust in her maternal care?  God deigned to create a spiritual family of love and He entrusted His mother with your care.  Motherly care is central to the natural order of God’s design for humanity.  Therefore, it is only logical to conclude that it is also part of His supernatural plan for humanity.  Turn to her as your spiritual mother and trust that the Lord wills to pour an abundance of Mercy upon you through her mediation.

Dearest Mother, I love you and entrust myself to your motherly care and intercession.  I believe that you are my mother in the order of grace and that you are “full of grace.”  Pour down upon me the motherly Mercy in your heart as I put my trust in you.  Dearest Mother, I consecrate myself to you.  Please pray for me.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: Lamentation, by Studio of Gerard David

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Reflection 210: Good Works in the Light of Divine Love

Do you work hard?  Do you strive to be good?  Do you want to make a positive difference?  It is certainly good to try to be good.  But in so doing, we must never think that our “goodness” is truly good in the eyes of God, unless it is Divine Love that has become the source of all activity in our lives.  Humility enables us to turn our eyes to the One and Only source of goodness in our lives.  And that source is the abundant Mercy of God.  We cannot decide, on our own, to do even one single act that is good or beneficial to others.  We cannot please God by our own effort, and most certainly, cannot attain Heaven or any eternal reward by our works.  All is a gift and all is grace.  Only the humble soul sees this and believes it.  But when it sees it and believes it, great things will happen for the Kingdom of God (See Diary #1092).

Reflect upon the good works you do.  As you do, see them for what they are, nothing less and nothing more.  If there is goodness in your life, humble honesty will enable you to understand that this goodness is 100% dependent upon the Goodness of God.  Without Mercy, you cannot do any good work.  With Mercy, you can do every good work.  God, at work in your soul, produces abundant blessings in this world.  Reflect upon your desire to be an instrument of the abundant blessings of God in this world and rejoice, humbly, that God has chosen to use you.  Say “Yes” to Him and you will see beautiful fruits for all.

Lord, please give me a humble heart.  Help me to see that all good things begin with You and are only accomplished by You and Your Mercy.  I give myself to You so that You may use me for Your glory.  And I thank You for the privilege of being used as an instrument of Your unfailing Love.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: The Charity of Saint Thomas of Villanueva, by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

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Reflection 209: Overcoming the Habit of Sin

Overcoming sin requires the Mercy of God.  Too often we attempt to overcome sin through our own effort.  This is a futile exercise in that you will never overcome your own sin through your own effort.  There is one way and one way only to rid yourself of the sin you struggle with, and that is done by turning to the transforming power of God poured out through the Mercy of the Cross of Christ.  It’s entirely possible that you have identified some habitual sin in your life, have confessed it, and then, within the next day, fell into that sin again, over and over.  This is because you have attempted to rely upon your own strength and not the power of God.  Jesus is the only means by which you can overcome your sin.  Turning to Him for the Mercy to eliminate sin from your life requires commitment and focus.  It requires total trust in Him and a complete surrender to Him.  You cannot do this on your own (See Diary #1087).

What is it that you struggle with each and every day?  Whatever your sin may be, you can overcome it, but only by relying on Mercy and the purifying power of the Cross.  This is done by fixing your eyes on Jesus and relying on Him alone.  Your responsibility is to turn to Christ.  His action is one of purification.  Do not doubt the power of our Lord and His ability to purge sin from your life.  It may “hurt” to be purified, but it is obtainable.  It requires sacrifice on your part and Mercy on His part.  Reflect upon this internal struggle you encounter and resolve, deeply, to abandon yourself to Him.  He will begin to lift this burden in your life when you do so.

Lord, I give You my sin and beg for the grace to overcome it.  I know that I am weak, but that You are strong.  Lift this heavy burden and bring purity and sanctity to my soul.  I love You my Lord and I surrender my sin to You.  Jesus, I trust in You.  

Image: Saint Francis in prayer before the Crucified, by El Greco

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Reflection 208: A Spiritual Arrow of Mercy

Normally, an arrow wounds and kills.  Arrows have been used throughout history for war and for hunting.  But a spiritual arrow of Mercy is much different.  Recall the words of Simeon the Prophet spoken to our Blessed Mother, “And you yourself a sword will pierce” (Luke 2:35).  And at the Crucifixion, recall that, “One soldier thrust his lance into [Jesus’] side, and immediately blood and water flowed out” (John 19:34).  A sword and a lance pierced the Hearts of our Blessed Mother and Jesus.  So also must our hearts be pierced.  But the sword, lance or arrow that we must receive will not wound in a negative way if accepted in love.  Rather, it will call forth mercy and compassion from our hearts.  Sorrow and pain are transformed within this “wound of love” and that wound pours forth God’s Mercy from our lives (See Diary #1082).

Reflect, today, upon two things.  First ponder the spiritual wounds in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.  Enter into the mystery of their pierced Hearts.  Try to understand that grace comes forth as a result of these piercings in that they produce compassion and Mercy for those in need.  Second, ponder your own heart.  Reflect upon any wound you carry and allow yourself to understand that this wound can be transformed.  It has potential to share in the Mercy flowing from the Hearts of Jesus and our Blessed Mother.  Allow yourself to share in their holy sorrow over sin and foster compassion for the sinner.  In this act, you will become wounded by a spiritual arrow of love.

Lord, help me to comprehend the great mystery of the suffering endured by Your most Sacred Heart.  Allow me to see that You freely accepted that wound so as to pour forth Mercy.  And help me to also accept the arrows of others so that Your Mercy can pour forth in return.  Jesus, I trust in You.  
Image: The Fountain of Grace, by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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