Jesus speaks in language that we can understand

[markdohle]

Jesus speaks in language that we can understand

January 27, 1938. During Holy Hour today, Jesus complained
to me about the ingratitude of souls

“In return for My blessings, I get ingratitude. In return for My love, I get forgetfulness and indifference.
My Heart cannot bear this”.
(St. Faustina’s diary 1537)

I do believe one reason that Jesus will often choose women to convey a special message to the world, or as Karl Rahner would say, to bring balance to the Gospel Message, is their ability to be very comfortable with using language that many men (myself included) would be hesitant to convey. “My Heart cannot bear this”

Really?

I get flummoxed by such language, yet, even though I do not use words in such a manner, yet when I look into my heart, I do understand, a little, very little. Yet I believe that Jesus is using Sr. Faustina to speak today to people like me, whose heart is still bewildered by love, not to mention ‘Infinite Love’. The more I do understand the love of God for each of us, I find that I am being filled more and more with gratitude for this true gift of God’s grace on mankind, as well as for all of the creation.

My heart is at war with itself. I long and desire love, yet fight it as well. In my heart is a desire to love all and to pray for all, but the next minute I find myself at war with deep anger that seems to lie in wait to create a stage for this comedy to be acted out. Yet, there is also healing, for there are moments, or hours, where my prayer is to simply open up these scenes to the loving gaze of our merciful, loving, compassionate and empathic Lord. Then I abandon myself to His will. I do know that my inner journey is like most people, though unique as well. Anger is not something unknown by our species. Anger that sits and waits to create some sort of inner theater is probably common as well, so I am in good company, a big band of fellow travelers who are called upon to trust in God, to open up their hearts to His loving gaze without fear, but in total trust of Infinite Love.

Jesus is speaking to us in a way that we can understand. It also points to an infinite vista of love that is way beyond my comprehension and I believe that we will spend an eternity discovering this immense world…..as well as always being at the beginning of our journey. For when diving into an ocean of infinite depth, no matter how far we dive, or how long, we are still at the surface. For the depth of God’s love has no ending, no bottom. Hard to believe I know, and this reality can be just as much an obstacle to faith as the problem of suffering in the world, both are major hurdles for many, it is for me, though trusting and jumping one hurdle at a time.

The anger of God is another difficulty for many as well. Though I believe that is because we do create God in our own image and likeness and it takes a life time to outgrow. I believe that St. Faustian is no exception. Though she is a saint, she is also like us. When she was writing her dairy, she was a pilgrim like we are at this time.

Below is another quote from her, not Jesus, though it should be pondered as well.|

Most Merciful Heart of Jesus, protect us from the
just anger of God. (St. Faustina’s Diary 1526)

I don’t think God works against himself. Anymore than the Blessed Mother holds back the hand of Jesus from smiting the world in some sort of unbridled rage directed at us. However I do believe that when we allow ourselves to become lukewarm and to then to grow into indifference, this leads us to become so self centered that God is shut out of our lives. This also affects us in how we treat others as well. This world is filled with suffering that is caused when we forget that all those we meet are made in the image and likeness of God. To treat others cruelly or spitefully or to destroy them by gossip, makes us vessels of wrath because we allow love to die within our hearts. When someone is rejected by a loved one, there is often wrath, but it is really grief. God is not revengeful, but only loving, yet sin and love cannot coexist. When mercy is refused, there is love experienced as deep wrath, but in reality it is God’s grief over the mystery of our freedom to embrace preferred pain, to God’s love. How is this done, I have no idea, nor do I have any idea on who does this. I do know that I am capable of it, but should I go down that road, it will be a free choice, all other failures are from human weakness that can be changed into good when I again turn to the Lord of life and love.

What is to be feared, is if there comes a day when I do not care. So each day I give my whole being to the Lord and simply trust that he will bring forth to completion what he has started in me and others as well. I pray and hope that for all.