Divine Mercy Sunday 2017

From my prospective it has been a long hard lent. Lots of lessons to be learned. The most profound move for me has been to see and understand the scripture relating to the last 40 days of Christ Life from His prospective. Perhaps it is impossible to really grasp all that He was going through but He gives some pretty big hints.

Mark 14:34 " My Soul is sorrowful to the point of death," "Stay here and keep watch with Me."

Why was Jesus so sorrowful?? Why did He groan with emotional pain as He prayed alone in the garden?? Why did He sweat Blood?? Perhaps part of the answer lies in another statement He made,  Mark 26:40, "Could you not watch one hour with Me," He asked Peter.

Why did Jesus say to His Father, "My Father if it is possible let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will but as You will."

I believe that the lack of faith of those closest to Jesus was enough for Him to be in despair. Jesus gave everything but His Life for them while walking and talking and teaching them for 3 1/2 years. If they didn't get it how was anyone else going to? How could He have failed to the point of them not even being able to pray for one hour with Him?

So we move on and Jesus is betrayed to an even deeper level by Peter and the other disciples. He is scourged, mocked and murdered while those closest to Him watch ran away or directly deny knowing Him.

At one point Jesus called Peter out for not believing what Jesus told him, "Get behind Me Satan." How serious it was and is not to believe the teaching of Jesus.  For Peter to decide in front of the others that the most important and difficult part of the message was not true because it, "hurt too much"  was very serious. Was Peter thinking of Jesus or himself. Did he not so enjoy being with the Master and being a follower that he didn't want anything painful to change all of that??  As a follower you can accept some of the teaching or reject it but as a teacher you must tell the whole truth, believe and live the whole truth. A much more difficult, uncomfortable  position to be in.

It all had to change in order for the message of Jesus to be available to this day. In order that there would be a resurrection, that Jesus would return and continue to teach those who mocked and scorned and crucified Him. I have wondered if any of them apologized to Him. He met them were they were at, allowing Thomas to put his hand in the Wound on His Side. Thomas needed to be absolutely sure it was Jesus living not an imposter. Some people are like that. No matter how much Christ shows His Love for them they have to be sure.

As I consider this day as Divine Mercy Sunday scheduled so soon after Easter it is because of the  great Mercy shown to His disciples, His friends  so soon after the crucifixion. From the Diary of St. Faustina, "The greatest sinner deserves My Mercy the most."

Mankind sinned greatly to His face and continues to this day.  We can't pretend that we are actually better than those who turned Him over to pilot and said, "Crucify Him, Crucify Him."

It is a struggle moment by moment not to be a taker but to somehow try to
be a giver.

To be a person who says, "Father forgive them for they know not what they
do. "

 And go on to wash their feet.

For me this is what Divine Mercy is about, 1 John 4:19: "We Love Because He
First Loved Us."

Most Sincerely, on this Glorious Day,

~Margaret of Souls for Jesus