WEEK 5: Unite the sufferings caused by human weakness with Jesus
We know from Sister Faustina’s Diary that there were also situations in her life when she went through a tough experience of human limitations, misery, sin, when she was hurt many times by the behavior of other people towards her.
Each one of us is a sinner, for each one of us Jesus died on the cross, and we all experience the effects of our own misery, weakness and the sins of others.
From her experience we can learn that these situations, humanly so difficult, have deep spiritual meaning – it is through them that we ourselves, who are sinners, learn the merciful love that God constantly shows us. Here is an event that took place in the hospital in Prądnik. In it, Sister Faustina describes a meeting with a lay person and the struggle that she fought within her own heart so as to act in the spirit of mercy.
This can be an encouragement for us – if it costed the Apostle of God’s mercy so much to show mercy to the person who had hurt her deeply, I too “have the right” to struggle, if only I would want to fight and ask for the grace that God’s mercy may also be victorious in my heart despite difficult experiences.
Let us also pay attention to the fact that Sister Faustina told the truth in a gentle and divine way. She did not say that “everything is fine” and that “nothing has happened”… mercy is always connected with the truth. It is important to combine the truth with an attitude of showing mercy. So let’s carefully read this passage from her Diary:
“Today I had a visit from a certain layperson who brought me a lot of trouble in the past by taking advantage of my goodness and telling a lot of lies. At first when I saw this person my blood froze in my veins when I recalled all that I had to go through because of her, though just one word from me would have been enough to free myself of it. The idea occurred to me to let her know the whole truth firmly and immediately. But then the thought of Divine mercy came, and I decided to treat this person as Jesus would if He were in my shoes. I started to speak to her gently, and when she wanted to continue the conversation in private I let her know, plainly but very politely, of the sorry state of her soul. I noticed she was very moved by this, even though she tried not to show it. Just then a third person came in, and our private talk was over. This person asked me for a glass of water and two other things, and I gladly complied with the request. But if it had not been for the grace of God I would not have been able to behave in that way. When both of them had left I thanked God for the grace which had been supporting me all the while.” (D. 1694)
“Then I heard these words, ‘I’m glad you behaved like a true daughter of Mine. Always be merciful, just as I am merciful. Love everyone out of love for Me, even your greatest enemies, so that the full extent of My mercy may be reflected in your heart.’” (D. 1695)
- Let us ask for God’s grace so that we too may be able to act as true children of God. Love is the most powerful weapon in the universe! Let the words of our Saint’s prayer help us:
“O Christ, although much effort is required, all things can be done with Your grace” (D. 1696).
“O Jesus, make my heart sensitive to all the sufferings of my neighbor, whether of body or of soul. O my Jesus, I know that You act toward us as we act toward our neighbor. My Jesus, make my heart like unto Your merciful Heart. Jesus, help me to go through life doing good to everyone” (D. 692).
