Friar’s Corner: Safe haven in Jesus’ love
Matthew 18:21-35:9; Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35
The Scripture readings this Sunday tell us God is kind and merciful. As we receive more of His love and mercy, we are to be merciful and forgiving toward others. God is love. We need His message of love, especially during these Covid-19 days.
As I have been watching what is going on around us and a little view of the world, I sense that I shall not be around much longer. I was in a house of prayer west of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. We left our house houses before the hurricane struck. It was gay bash weekend. God said enough is enough and leveled a lot of the city. What is happening with all of these fires and riots?
A critical election
It seems to some of us that the coming election is critical for the survival of our country. It is almost as if we are headed into a civil war. There has been an ongoing battle between good and evil, God’s love and light and satan’s evils. Catholic Canon Law speaks about the option between two forces, choosing the lesser of two evils. We may not like many things on either side. Which one would provide the best way forward?
If things get really bad in your neighborhood, leave and find a safer place to stay. Those living in New Orleans told me they had learned, with so many hurricanes, to live with the most important things in life.
Jesus appeared to Sister (now Saint) Faustina Kowalska from 1931 to 1935. He chose her to be His messenger of merciful love to the whole world. God’s merciful love is at the heart of the gospels. Jesus said to her, “Know, my daughter, that My Heart is Mercy (love) itself. From this sea of mercy (love) graces pour out upon the whole world. No soul that comes to Me departs without being comforted. All misery vanishes in My Merciful love: and every grace, redemptive and sanctifying, stems from this source.”
Jesus also said, “Tell ailing mankind to draw closer to My Merciful Heart and I will fill them with peace. Mankind will not find solace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy and love.” Jesus’ powerful messages were given before World War II, 1939-44.
The greatest source of love
The greatest source of God’s love is found in the Mass, the real presence of Jesus in Holy Communion. The more we are open and receive Jesus in this way, our “daily bread,” the more we are filled with His love and able to share it with others.
From these revelations, the next power source comes through the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. You recite this chaplet on the beads of the Rosary.
1) First say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and the Apostles Creed. On the first bead of a group we say, “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”
2) On the ten Hail Mary beads say, “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
3) In conclusion after the five decades, we say three times:, “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
The heart of Jesus
Jesus gave us a new picture of Himself with red and pale rays flowing from His heart, symbolizing the Blood and Water that came from His pierced side on the Cross. Jesus tells us to get on one of those rays and come directly into His heart, an ocean of His love for us. For safety sake, take a copy of that picture and place it facing out on each of your house doors as protection from all evil.
Let us all take advantage of these heavenly powers to aid our life in the difficult days for ourselves and our country. Amen. And let us continue to pray for one another.
Peace and safe blessings,
+ Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
(© 2020 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)
