This past year Pope Francis declared a Jubilee of Mercy. It began on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th and will conclude on November 20th, 2016 the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. You can read more here and here and many places all over the web.
This year has been on my heart since he declared it, so I've decided to have a page titled 'Year of Mercy' and off and on will post to that page.
A couple of significant things, I suppose, that bring me to this: Randy and I met on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and were married 11 months later! And, contemplating Jesus as King of the Universe almost stops me in my tracks.
And, mercy. Well, mercy. When you've felt the mercy of Christ you are changed for ever. And, He wants e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e to experience it. The same could be said about His love and His grace. Sometimes they run together to me. :)
Last night a friend and I got together to begin to discuss this book. I'm not quite ready to recommend it as we are just getting going with it. But, our discussion spurred from getting together was good.
When I left what stuck with me was our conversation about the love of Christ and the very unique relationship that He wants to have with each of us.
She said, "I think there are as many ways to know Jesus as there are people in the world."
My friend is a "daily Mass goer" and spends time in adoration weekly with our Lord. That information isn't to say, 'look how holy she is', but to say that spending time with Jesus reveals His tender, tender love for us.
Even people who love God and have experienced His mercy have a tendency to put Him in a box so to speak.
No box. Commandments and teachings of the church, yes. But, no box.
These words are from the book of Jeremiah.
And, while we often try to define ourselves we need first to look to Him who knows our hearts better than we know our own.
Turning to Him to look into our tortuous hearts is one way to begin to experience His mercy.
"For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."
From the Divine Mercy Chaplet revealed to Saint Faustina who died in 1938
These photos were taken in our lane this morning. :)
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I have been a lurking reader for a while....thank you for this post. As a converted Catholic, many things are not known to me. I am working hard on walking closer to our Lord and especially loved the Jeremiah verses. The Chaplet phrase stays in my heart. I did not know where it came from so I truly appreciate being able to Google and learn more. This Year of Mercy can have great meaning to us if we open our hearts. Bless you and your family.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, and so true.
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