Gospel: (Mark 1: 9-15)
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
St. Faustina noted in her Diary (D. 1146, 1507)
“[Let] the greatest sinners [put] their trust in Me. They have the right of priority over others to trust in the infinite depth of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy upon anguished souls. I delight in souls that invoke My mercy. On such souls I bestow more graces than they ask for. If anyone appeals to My mercy I cannot punish him, were he even the greatest of sinners; but in My infinite and unfathomed mercy I shall justify him. Write this down: Before I come as the just Judge, I shall fling wide open the door of My mercy. Whoever does not want to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice…”
“Let no one doubt in the goodness of God; even if his sins should be as black as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our wretchedness. All the sinner needs to do is to leave the door to his heart just a little ajar for the ray of grace of Divine mercy to enter, and God will do the rest. But wretched is the soul that has closed up the door to Divine mercy, even at the last hour. Those are the souls which cast Jesus into the sorrow of death in the Garden of Olives, for it was from His most compassionate Heart that Divine mercy flowed out.”
- Out of love for you, Jesus, the Son of God, allowed Satan to tempt Him. Later, He begins preaching the kingdom of God and calls – you and me – to conversion. What is your response to these efforts of God’s mercy by which God seeks our eternal salvation?
- Are you grateful to Jesus for the efforts He has made for you?
- Every day during this week try to open at least a little the door of your heart to the rays of Divine mercy …
