Do You Trust Me (Good Friday)

 

“My heart is sorrowful,” Jesus said, “because even chosen souls do not understand the greatness of My Mercy.  Their relationship (with Me) is, in certain ways, imbued with mistrust.  Oh, how much that wounds My heart!  Remember My Passion, and if you do not believe My words, at least believe My wounds.”

(Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul 379.)

Let your love and trust grow stronger as you remember the Lord's Passion today.  There is no greater love than this:

    Jesus gave His life for YOU.

 

-Susan

Do You Trust Me (Holy Thursday)

The most solemn moment of my life is the moment when I receive Holy Communion.  I long for each Holy Communion, and for every Holy Communion, I give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity. (Diary: Divine Mercy in my Soul 1804).

  On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which will be given for you, do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19). Jesus very specifically states who He is giving up His body for. He gave his life for YOU! Receiving Holy Communion is a very personal moment between you and Jesus.  It is a moment of pure love for Jesus. Is it a moment of pure love for you as well?

-Susan

Do You Trust Me/ (Week 6)

  For them (souls and poor sinners), I dwell in the Tabernacle as King of Mercy. I desire to bestow My graces upon souls but they do not want to accept them….My heart drinks only of the ingratitude and forgetfulness of souls living in the world.  They have time for everything, but they have no time to come to me for grace.  Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul (367)  

  

   Imagine if a favorite actor, sports star, or singer asked you to come to their house. Would you do it? Would you rearrange your schedule for them? Would you share your experience with others? Do you ever dream of being like them?

 Just as people eagerly welcomed Jesus on Palm Sunday, do we give Him the same attention the rest of the week?  After Sunday Mass, how much time do we spend with Jesus? He desires to be your closest friend. Does that thought excite you?  Do you rearrange your schedule to be with Him? 

 Jesus, the King of Heaven and Earth, is so good and loving that He patiently waits for us. He invites us to spend time with Him, but we often have too many other things going on.   What excuses have you given Him for not coming?  If you feel embarrassed about this, know that you're not alone.  Let's make a promise to make this week different. Let this week be the beginning of something new.

-Susan

   

Do You Trust Me? (Week 5)

  (Jesus told St. Faustina) "My heart overflows with great mercy for souls and especially for poor sinners.  If only they could understand that I am the best of Fathers to them and that the blood and water flowed from My heart as from a font overflowing with mercy."  Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul (367)              

 

 (This quote refers to the graces in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Today, we will examine the first part of the quote and revisit it next week.)

 

  Ashamed and standing just outside the church doors with your head cast down, your heart whispers, "Father, forgive me, for I have sinned."  You hear the door open, and as you slowly look up, you notice Jesus standing at the entrance.  He takes your hand and gently guides you inside.  "Lord, my sins are so many." You then let out a very long sigh.

 Jesus continues to hold your hand and says. "They don't have to be a part of you anymore. Give them to Me."

 "I'm ashamed to say them out loud."

 Jesus places a hand on your chin and slowly raises your head so that your eyes meet His.  "Do you trust that all things are possible for Me?  Do you trust that I can heal with one word, with one touch?  There is no end to My Mercy.  I can wash away the ugliest of sins.  So tell Me what needs to be healed in your heart, and I will show you the fountain of mercy flowing from Mine."

 Slowly, you speak words unveiling dark secrets. You kneel before the Lord, exposed and vulnerable, afraid to meet His gaze again. But again, Jesus lifts your head and says, "Child, I absolve you of all your sins."  Then He wraps His arms around you and presses you close to His heart.  Mery and love flow through you. You feel beautiful, cleansed, and renewed. Instinctively, you realize this is how you were meant to be: a child whose heart contains God's love and mercy.

-Susan

  

  

Do You Trust Me (Week 4)

"Silence is a sword in the spiritual struggle...The silent soul is capable of attaining the greatest union with God.  It almost always lives under the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. God works in a silent soul without hindrance." 

(Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul 477).

How often have you had to say to someone, "If you would just stop talking for a minute, you would hear what I'm saying?"  I wonder how often God has said that to me. Adulthood demands that we spend our time productively and take pride in our multitasking ability. Sitting in silence can seem like a poor use of time. Silence, however, slices through the world's noise, creating a space for God to enter.

 Spiritual growth is not a journey we undertake alone. It is a response to contemplate and imitate God, who is the source of all growth. Silence, as a compelling, active encounter, can surpass any of our daily plans. Although God can multitask to a level we could never comprehend, He desires and concentrates on a single task for each of us. He desires us to become saints.

 Let's make this week truly productive by actively placing ourselves in God's presence. Breathe in His Spirit. Get to know the one true God. Hear His voice, listen to His thoughts, and rest in His love. 

-Susan 

 

Do You Trust Me? (Week 3)

 

"Oh, if souls would only be willing to listen, at least a little, to the voice of conscience and the voice--that's the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!  I say "at least a little" because once we open ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit, He himself will fulfill what is lacking in us." (Diary Divine Mercy in My Soul 162).

 Each day, I pray that the Holy Spirit inspires me and that I am faithful to His inspirations.  I need to pray for His strength and courage because, if I am honest, ignoring the inspirations of the Holy Spirit can be easier than acting on them. Often, my first reaction is that I'm not qualified to say or do that.  No one is going to listen to me. And while my small inner thoughts can justify remaining quiet, I'm unsure if the sigh that escapes my lips is mine or the Holy Spirit's.

 Trusting God is central to the message of Divine Mercy. It almost sounds absurd that, at times, I do not trust God and His plans. Paradoxically, I can easily acknowledge my weaknesses and inabilities and yet, in the next thought, convince myself that my thoughts are better. I can easily forget that my best friend, the Holy Spirit, has everyone's best interest in His heart.  The Holy Spirit inspires each of us so that we can inspire one another. The plan is actually quite incredible when everyone follows it.

 This week, let's be brave enough to ask the Holy Spirit to inspire us to do some small job for God. If the job makes us uncomfortable, let's remember to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with whatever is lacking. 

  -Susan

Do You Trust Me?

 

  As we journey through this Lenten season, let's draw inspiration from the Diary of St. Faustina (Divine Mercy in My Soul)  Her intimate conversations unveil the depth of God's love and mercy for every soul. St. Faustina's revelations from Jesus remind us that many souls take His love for granted, causing Him pain. But Lent allows us to change and renew our relationship with God.

 I want to consider the first quote: "God usually chooses the weakest and simplest souls as tools for His great work" (464).

 God chose St. Faustina, the apostles, and He is choosing you. Listen carefully to the whispers He has planted in your heart.  His plan is perfect. What is God calling you to do? Do you know? Are you avoiding it?  Or have you never asked?  Like many of us, St. Faustina thought she was too simple of a soul to do great works. But we can always trust in God's Plan.  Let us begin Lent by asking God to increase our trust in Him. God is well aware of what we can do and is very aware of what He can do through us.  Placing our trust in God is a perfect place to begin.

-Susan

  

Keeping Balanced

 

   Today, I will share an embarrassing story that I'm sure many of you can relate to.  I want to start by saying, "I know I should not have done that."  Here goes.  My daughter and I were shopping at a large department store. We were going to check out the sales on the lower level.  The minute we got on the escalator, something caught my eye. I turned to my daughter while pointing and said, "Look, we have to go back up."  My daughter quickly turned around and easily went up the down escalator.  Unfortunately, I did not.  My shoe hit the edge of the moving stair, and my balance was completely thrown off. I tried to regain my balance, but I couldn't recover. I fell to my knees, praying that no one had seen that.

 My daughter quickly stepped back on the escalator to check on me. Once I confirmed that I was more humiliated than hurt, she said, "I don't mean to laugh, Mom, but you looked hilarious!" I cringed with embarrassment.

 Did I know better?  I sure did.  So, what possessed me to do it anyways?  It was something I had done plenty of times in the past, I didn't think it was a big deal. But the throbbing bump on my knee told a different story. This incident was a wake-up call, a reminder that even seemingly harmless actions can have consequences.

 Ash Wednesday is just a few days away.  Lent is the perfect time to look at what habits are throwing us off balance.  Bad habits usually start small and harmless, and we easily shrug them off as not a big deal. But little by little, a bad habit can tip the scale in the opposite direction, and suddenly, we have trouble juggling everything. Sometimes, it's our prayer life that ends up falling off. This Lent, let's use this time for self-reflection and address these habits before they disrupt our spiritual life.

 Before Ash Wednesday, take a look at your prayer life.  Have you let any new habits steal your time with God?  It can be embarrassing to admit what excuses we give for not praying. Lent is the perfect time to reach out and grab a hold of God's hand before you lose your balance and fall.

-Susan

New Release in Ten Days!

 

  Check out the new season of Lent 2025, which launches in ten days! Be sure not to miss it! There has been quite a bit of buzz about what to expect. The Creator says this season will definitely be different from last season and promises some big rewards to all participants. As in seasons past, this year will again be 40 days. However, everyone is expected to do a complete overhaul of past mistakes.  Everyone will get multiple passes to try again.

  The goal this season is not to let the enemy get between you and God's Will. The path will definitely have new and unseen challenges and surprises. And don't worry; some of the fan favorites will definitely be returning, but hopefully, they will do so with an added layer of zeal.  These favorites include Adoration, Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Rosaries, fasting, almsgiving, and service, to name just a few.

  For those who have not participated in the past, here are some insider tips for succeeding.  Call on the Holy Spirit to direct your steps, never miss an opportunity to receive Holy Communion, and praise God wherever you go!  Don't forget to use the intercessory prayers of Mary and all the saints.  They are the perfect go-to if you are confused.  Also, remember that calling on friends and family who are participating can help you stay strong.

  This season promises to be a real game-changer.  Many will obtain holiness.  You could be one of them!  But you can't do it watching someone else.  This new season is all about the decisions and opportunities you create.  Make Lent 2025 part of your legacy.

-Susan

Encountering The Cross (Week 6)

 

  Maggie was old. Her feet moved very slowly, and her arthritic hands could barely pick up her cross. She knew her cross well, but lately, it seemed it was an uphill climb. After a short rest, she picked up her cross again. An old church song came to mind, and she quietly sang the sweet melody as she scuttled along. This song took her back to her childhood days filled with love. Most of her family had passed now, but she still remembered the laughter of family dinners and the example of her parent's faith.

  Inch by painful inch, Maggie continued to make progress. She was pretty sure her days of carrying this cross were almost over. She was almost at the summit, but physical exhaustion forced her to stop. She turned to look around. Maggie smiled and said to herself, "My, it is all so beautiful from here. I wonder why it is so hard to see while you are climbing?" Overcome with exhaustion and emotion, Maggie set her cross down for the last time and laid down next to it. As her eyes closed, she felt a hand on her shoulder and a beautiful voice.

  "Maggie, you did it!" Jesus announced. "You carried your cross like a good and faithful servant. Leave it here. You don't have to carry it anymore!" Jesus bent down and cradled Maggie in His arms, "I'm going to carry it for you." As Jesus carried her the last couple of steps, He whispered, "You're home now." Jesus set Maggie down in front of the most beautiful door she had ever seen. Maggie's legs felt youthful and strong as she watched Jesus place her cross into the keyhole.  It was a perfect fit! As the door opened, Maggie smiled widely. It was more beautiful than she had ever imagined! 

  "Welcome home, Maggie!  You are going to love it here!"

-Susan