Divine Mercy Flashcards
Many in the community in fact believed their fellow sister in religion was psychologically unstable, incompetent and emotionally weak.
Nonetheless, it is difficult to find instances where Saint Faustina took this personally.
For many years, Saint Faustina had been in deep conversation with Jesus.
In the friendship with Christ which Divine Mercy opened up for her, she plunged deep into the mystery of Christ’s rejection and because of that baptism, she was able to draw even more deeply from the mystery of His wisdom and courage.
Throughout her writings, she seems so focused on the Lord that slights on her reputation are seen mainly as an opportunity to make a little sacrifice of loving patience.
Her relationship with the Lord is marked by tender affection.
She often anticipates His disappointments
and is constantly amazed by His personal concern for her and understanding of each situation.
In the face of the rejection she often suffered, it is true that she honestly complained to Jesus about being misunderstood.
Yet it seems she did so only because these misunderstandings seemed to prevent her from accomplishing what she believed the Risen Lord had asked of her.
Time and again the Risen Lord invites her into deeper and deeper trust.
One such instance occurred right in the midst of those dark humdrum days Saint Faustina looked upon with festive eyes. Workers were belligerently banging at the gate of the convent monastery. (See, Dairy #1377)
Saint Faustina prayerfully went with the intention of trying to talk to them men through a kind of window in the locked gate. This would be the most prudent course of action.
As she drew closer to the commotion, it is easy to understand why she was afflicted with doubts and fears. Rather than giving into despondency, she prayed.
The Lord prompted her to do something very different from her original plan.
He told her to speak to them as sweetly as she spoke to Him.
Because she had already learned to be docile to these promptings through the many trials of rejection the Lord had brought her through up to that point, she was able to generously respond to this word. With confidence, she opened the gate and spoke to the men face to face. Her voice was gentle and understanding.
This act of courage and respect calmed the disgruntled laborers down. Seeing the humble sister and hearing her concern for them, they too began to speak and act with gentleness. The situation was diffused and everyone went home in peace.
There are often times in our conversations with friends and family that we feel doubts about whether our words will make a difference.
Fear might influence us to take precautions to protect ourselves and there may be a temptation to answer harsh words in a contentious manner.
We may feel discouraged and ready to give up.
This is not the way of mercy.
Mercy is love that
suffers the privation of another,
feels the pain of the one who suffers,
and moves to affirm that individual’s dignity.
The way of mercy can only be found through our friendship with Christ and He always challenges us to make ourselves vulnerable and open to His love.
The Risen Lord comes to us in our doubts and fears ready to bestow His courage and speak His words of wisdom.
He only asks us to accept a little rejection and humiliation at the hands of others by trusting in Him.
Suffering a little injustice helps us soberly face the misery that afflicts all of us.
Misery is a lack of love, an absence of love that ought to be there.
Our sins and the sins of others have brought about this privation and in His Divine Mercy, God longs for us to entrust this misery to Him.
He burns with the desire that we should not suffer alone or in alienation, that we should know that someone understands us and has implicated Himself in our plight out of love for us.
In fact, Saint Faustina believed that the only thing that was really ours to offer God is our misery — everything else is a gift from Him.
