Each day until Divine Mercy Sunday on April 7th, I will email you one thought from that day’s brief reading from Fr. Michael Gaitley’s fine book, 33 Days to Merciful Love. I render full credit for these thoughts, respecting copyright laws, to Fr. Gaitley. Each reading ends with a prayer, which I ask you to pray with me for this intention: the conversion of our parish.
Day Twenty-Nine
We have completed four weeks of preparation for the Consecration to Merciful Love, which is a kind of wedding ceremony. I will make an act of unconditional trust in the one who loves me. I will promise to return my spouse’s love, in good times and bad, as long as I shall live. I will make that commitment to God on this Sunday, the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Fr. Gaitley takes us into these last five days by focusing on three words each day. Today’s three words are: Distrust, Blessing, and Grace. These twelve words over the next four days begin with the word Distrust. Life went wrong when Eve, and then Adam, distrusted God. The first step on the way back is to recognize that “we have a trust problem.” The fundamental purpose for Retrouvaille workshops for troubled marriages, for instance, is to learn how to trust again. We’ve lost trust in Divine Providence, but we can regain it.
And the second word for today, “Blessing,” gives us a reason to trust. The fact is, we have many more blessings than curses in life. The fact that I can write these words means that God has given me another day of vitality. The sun rose today, I had my favorite breakfast after a beautiful Mass with my dear people. In an hour I’ll jump in the car with my bicycle for a day off with priests with whom I’ve been dear friends over 40 years. We are still friends, and we trust each other more than ever—what a blessing! Everything I have is a gift, from my superb carbon-fiber bike to my excellent health to the clothes on my back. When we at least try to see everything as a gift, our hearts sing with joy.
The fact is, we live under friendly skies. I will walk with my dear friends on our favorite beach today, laughing, joking, running, tossing a football in the surf, and looking up the blue (or grey) skies. God smiles upon us through that sky every day, all day. Jesus, I trust in You!
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. Help me to trust in You, to recognize Your blessings, and to accept Your grace.
Day Twenty-Nine
We have completed four weeks of preparation for the Consecration to Merciful Love, which is a kind of wedding ceremony. I will make an act of unconditional trust in the one who loves me. I will promise to return my spouse’s love, in good times and bad, as long as I shall live. I will make that commitment to God on this Sunday, the Feast of Divine Mercy.
Fr. Gaitley takes us into these last five days by focusing on three words each day. Today’s three words are: Distrust, Blessing, and Grace. These twelve words over the next four days begin with the word Distrust. Life went wrong when Eve, and then Adam, distrusted God. The first step on the way back is to recognize that “we have a trust problem.” The fundamental purpose for Retrouvaille workshops for troubled marriages, for instance, is to learn how to trust again. We’ve lost trust in Divine Providence, but we can regain it.
And the second word for today, “Blessing,” gives us a reason to trust. The fact is, we have many more blessings than curses in life. The fact that I can write these words means that God has given me another day of vitality. The sun rose today, I had my favorite breakfast after a beautiful Mass with my dear people. In an hour I’ll jump in the car with my bicycle for a day off with priests with whom I’ve been dear friends over 40 years. We are still friends, and we trust each other more than ever—what a blessing! Everything I have is a gift, from my superb carbon-fiber bike to my excellent health to the clothes on my back. When we at least try to see everything as a gift, our hearts sing with joy.
The fact is, we live under friendly skies. I will walk with my dear friends on our favorite beach today, laughing, joking, running, tossing a football in the surf, and looking up the blue (or grey) skies. God smiles upon us through that sky every day, all day. Jesus, I trust in You!
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. Help me to trust in You, to recognize Your blessings, and to accept Your grace.
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