The other night I was reading St. Maria Faustina’s diary and I reached the part of the book where she documents the Divine Mercy Novena.  The Lord speaks to her and says for her to bring Him the people who are pagans and do not believe.  The Lord goes on to tell her that He was thinking of them during His passion and how their future zeal for Him comforted His heart.  This struck me.  I loved reading this.  What a sweet thing for Our Lord to say! 

Immediately after reading this I stopped and closed my eyes.  I wanted this for people that I knew.  I wanted them to reach that future zeal that comforted His heart during His passion.  Can you believe that?  It excited me!  I started to list off names and after the third or forth name I paused.  Curious, I thought about the people I had mentioned to Him.  A lot of them had hurt me, a lot of them I felt as if there were no hope for them, that there was no way that they would ever be able to recognize the goodness that The Lord wanted to offer them.  Some of these people I despised, I ridiculed, I judged for living the way that they do; empty and hollow. 

Instead of feeling the way that I usually feel towards these people, I began to feel so much love for them.  I began to hope against all hope, to desire so much goodness for them above my own, to beg The Lord to show them glimpses of His will for them.  I didn’t want them to be frightened by knowing who they truly are beneath all that they had already accepted for themselves in this life.  I wanted more for them and I wanted them to feel it!  So I prayed even harder.  I let The Holy Spirit wash over me and asked Him to show them beauty, kindness, compassion.  I asked Him to help them to recognize this and not take it for granted.  

I knew what I was experiencing was a grace.  The Lord had given me a glimpse of His mercy towards others.  What a gift.  There I was praying for people to be immersed in The Lord’s mercy and The Lord wanted me to be immersed too.  He wanted me to see His mercy first hand so that I could be reminded of how real His mercy really is for us.

Sister, do not become discouraged.  His mercy is a continuous stream, ever flowing, ever bountiful.  I was reminded as I read that night that His mercy isn’t just for the pagans and for the people who do not believe, but for all of us.  He found joy in their future zeal during His passion… Can you imagine what He must have been thinking about you?  He delights in you and rejoices in who you are, dear woman of God.

May God give you the sweetest peace.