Divine mercy is a promise.
Loving.
Infinite.
Dynamic.
Peaceful.
I am a pilgrim of mercy.
Do you believe that God has a plan for your life? It's easy to see God's plans when we look at the lives of the saints. We, of course, have the benefit of hindsight. We know how their stories end. But it wasn't easy for them to see God's plan while their lives were unfolding. Their very human hearts were like your very human heart and they yearned for happiness just as you do. So how do you find happiness?
The saints and mystics of every age came to understand one particular truth. Only God can make us happy. That's why one of the great quests of the spiritual life is to align our desires with God's desires. To want what God wants is wisdom. But it's not easy. Even the great patron saint of divine mercy, Sister Faustina, struggled to discover God's great plan for her life. As a teenager, Faustina dreamed of becoming a nun, but her parents refused to support her vocation. Then, at the age of 19, her path finally came into focus. While attending a local dance with her sister, she was dancing with a young man when Jesus appeared to her in a vision. He was wounded, bleeding, and asked her, "How long will you keep putting me off?" Faustina left the dance and rushed to a nearby cathedral. Kneeling before the tabernacle, she begged Jesus to reveal his plan. She heard his voice clearly, "Go to Warsaw and join the convent there."
You might assume that your life would be easier if Jesus would appear to you and tell you exactly what to do. But that isn't the case, and that wasn't the case for Faustina. When she arrived in Warsaw, she faced rejection after rejection. The convents all had their reasons for saying no. She was too old, too young, too poor, too uneducated. Finally, the sisters of Our Lady of Mercy gave Faustina hope, telling her that she wasn't ready now, but she should return in a year. Faustina was deeply saddened by this delay, but as she worked and prayed, she continued to trust God's plan wholeheartedly.
Years passed, Faustina entered the convent, and she settled into her vocation as a nun. But God's plan was just beginning. On February 22, 1931, Faustina was praying in her convent when Jesus appeared to her again. He was dressed in white, with his right hand raised in a blessing. His left hand was on his heart, out of which flowed two brilliant rays, one red and one white. In time, this would become the legendary divine mercy image. Jesus Jesus appeared to Faustina many times to teach her about his divine mercy, and he asked Faustina to share it with the world. But even with her mission in hand, Faustina felt like everything was working against her. She faced innumerable challenges that would have stopped most people in their tracks. People called her a liar. Her superiors tried to stop her efforts. And she even came down with a deadly case of tuberculosis that would ultimately take her life at the young age of 33. These trials caused all sorts of doubts in Sister Faustina. At different points, she thought to herself, "I'm not qualified. I'm not the right person for this. I'm not the best person for this." But despite all of these moments, when it looked like God's plan for her life was stalling, delayed, or even non-existent, Faustina trusted that God had a plan. As she trusted, that plan unfolded, and so did an important truth. What God had planned for her was greater than what she ever could have wanted for herself. God didn't just have a plan for Faustina. He had a plan to share his divine mercy with the entire world through her. It was a beautiful plan, a plan that we all fit into. If you learn nothing else from Faustina, learn this. Jesus has a wonderful plan for you, and His mercy will help you overcome the doubts and obstacles that you encounter along the way.
Jesus wanted Sister Faustina to experience His mercy and then share it with the world. Now Jesus wants you to experience His mercy and bring that mercy into the world to share with your family in the workplace, at school, and with the people who cross your path as you make your way through life. But here's the key. Trust that Jesus has a plan for you, no matter what. Trusting God may seem overwhelming in a world where so many things go wrong so much of the time. But I will share with you the secret to allow trust to build in your heart. Place your trust in Him for today, and then wake up tomorrow and do the same thing. Faustina never could have imagined what Jesus would do in her and through her during her life and beyond. Trust that He will work through you for goodness. He will not disappoint you. God reveals His plans little by little. Discovering His plan is an unfolding process that takes time, continuous effort, and, above all, trust. So, begin today. Find a quiet place where you can be alone with God. Allow the silence to settle your heart and mind, and ask God to reveal His will. Not for the rest of your life, but for some situation you are dealing with right now. A pilgrim's trust grows along the way. Allow your trust to grow little by little, day by day. Saint Faustina, pray for us. Trust, surrender, believe, receive There is a multi-generational problem in the church that deserves our urgent attention. It seems the growing consensus among Catholics is that mass is boring and that it isn't relevant to modern life. Nothing could be further from the truth. And this year, we want to change that mistaken perception forever. Dynamic Catholic is developing a world-class program that will teach Catholics, young and old, about the genius of the mass and show them exactly how it applies to their daily lives. I hope this stirs your soul. I hope you want to be a part of it. So click the button below. Choose your welcome gift. Become a Dynamic Catholic Ambassador today. We had so much fun creating these new welcome gifts for you. I hope you enjoy them. Have a great day. And remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.
Eternal God.
In whom mercy is endless.
And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible.
Look kindly upon us.
And increase your mercy in us.
That in difficult moments, we might not despair.
Nor become despondent.
But with great confidence.
Submit ourselves to your holy will.
Which is love and mercy itself.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
See you tomorrow.
Thank you, Ambassadors.
You are changing the world.
Have a great day.
Have a great day.
Have a great day.
Hey, Ralph. One of the best ways to be a pilgrim of mercy is to collaborate with God to create holy moments. So I figured while we have a couple of minutes, you could inspire our audience. So, tell me, what is today's Holy Moment Challenge?
It is admire the beauty of God's creations.
