Did You Really Hear What Jesus Said?

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’


Powerful words from our Savior and such clarity.

I heard Something New in an Old Story Today

We had a guest Priest at our Parish today. He was speaking on today's Gospel passge regarding Jesus telling us to bring him our tired, weary selves and in Him find rest.

Everytime I have heard this I have always thought about people being weary and tired from life. It has always struck me that when I read this in the Bible it seems to me there are a ton of really tired people that are Christians. Why is Jesus so worried about people resting?

Then it was explained. . .

Sin weighs us down. When we rest in Christ - we have confessed our sins and offered ourselves up for Mercy. And Mercy is granted, lovingly.

The Image of Divine Mercy!

The image that Jesus directed St. Faustina to paint had very clear direction from our Lord. He wanted the world to know His mercy through this image. St. Faustina wrote in her Diary:

"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand [was] raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me,"Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world." (Diary, 47)

"I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature; 'Jesus, I trust in You.'" (Diary,327)

She was to have the image painted just as she saw Him, standing with His right hand raised in blessing, red and pale rays issuing from His heart, a gaze of Mercy in His eyes...

"During prayer I heard these words within me: The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls...

These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross." (Diary,299)

The Lord was very clear regarding this image.

"I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory." (Diary, 48)

"By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy...." (Diary, 742)

The infinite depths of the Lord Jesus have been opened to everyone!

The Lord has provided, through the Church, amy avenues and Graces through the Seven Sacraments and Priests. Howver, not all of us are taking advantage of those graces to save ourselves. Rather than Jesus saying "Sorry but I gave you enough chances to be saved," he is saying "I love you so much that I am giving you this additional Grace to help save yourselves with."

It is really sad that so many people remain lost and ignore the graces that are availabel to them - or are not aware that they even exist. Therefore, our Christian duty is to evangelize to those who aren't even aware.

Repent . . .for the Kingdom of God is here.

Peace be with you.

Divine Mercy Sunday

What is Divine Mercy Sunday?

Great question. As Catholics we all know that we sin. Our sins are forgiven by Christ (through a confessor) in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

A great comparison I heard is that when you are a child playing baseball and you accidentally break the neighbor's window with the baseball what happens? Usually your Father will take you over to the neighbo'r where you will need to apologize for your mistake. Both your Father and the neighbor forgive you. BUT - you still have to make restitution. You must pay for the broken window.

As we confess our sins we are forgiven but a price, too, must be paid for those sins. We pay that price in Purgatory (or here on Earth through suffering).

However, on Divine Mercy Sunday, Christ has provided an opportunity to be forgiven AND have the price paid in full all at once!

We are forgiven our sins and the we are relieved of having any restitution to pay by simply believing the Jesus the Christ.

There are few rules to get there, You must have had a sincere confession within 24 hours of Divine Mercy Sunday (the First Sunday after Easter) you must take Holy Communion on Divine Mercy Sunday and you must meditate on the Passion of our Lord.

"I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory." (Diary, 48)

"By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy...." (Diary, 742)

These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him. I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy." (Diary,299)

This is truly the most extraordinary gift!

Peace be with you.