“Jesus I trust in You”…
A dear friend of mine married a soccer player. Her boys were kicking a soccer ball like professionals before they could even walk properly. Another friend married a keen rugby and cricket fan, and her children – boys and girl – are enrolled into the sports from Kindergarten.
When my eldest child was born, he was the first grandchild on my side of the family. One of my brothers, who is an avid Parramatta Eels supporter, bought him a Parramatta Eels jersey in a size 0 and today, my children follow the Eels. My brother bought the same gift for my niece – the second grandchild on my side of the family, but as her father is an avid St George Illawarra supporter neither she nor her brothers share my brothers’ love for the Eels.
My brother wished to share his passion for his Rugby team of choice – but sharing is not compulsion – sharing is invitation ONLY…
For me, sports are not a passion, but I love to read. I mean… I LOVE to read. For me, reading is the most gorgeous luxury that God could have ever provided to me. I have been reading to my children since I brought them home from the hospital. In fact, I am so mad about books that when my little niece was in hospital for weeks and weeks after she was born last year because she was so sick, I made sure to buy her mother books to read to her so that she would hear beautiful words. Now, although my children are in upper primary school, and my eldest son is soon to be in high school, I still read to my children, perhaps not nightly, but definitely a few times a week.
I have been thinking about these things that we share with others and with our children very much over the last few days.
I, like most parents, love my children more than I love myself. I will sacrifice everything and anything for my children. This does not mean that I will give them whatever they ask for – for that would not be a demonstration of love, but rather that would be ultimately irresponsible of me as a parent. Really, the ways that I show love for my children – apart from the mundane and ordinary things, like making sure they eat, drink, live in a relatively clean home, and receive the sacraments – is to share with them.
And what is it I share?
I share my food – the food I have prepared, and even at times, to my mild annoyance, the food from my own plate. I share my time – cooking and cleaning and working so that they can be comfortable, and also time spent as a family, time together. I share my talents – I read to them so that they too will find joy in this thing that give me joy, I teach them to play the piano (much to their constant disgust) because though I hated learning it, I enjoy playing it now. I share what I have. What is mine is theirs and I find joy in sharing it with them.
I am an imperfect parent. My love is tempered by impatience, weakness, frustration, selfishness and sin. And still – for the most part – my children trust me…
God shares everything with us. He made us for the purpose of SHARING eternal salvation with us. He gives us everything – EVEN HIMSELF, His Divine Son – Christ Crucified and resurrected. He shares His SALVATION – His FAMILY very family, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, even His Blessed Mother and Foster Father – with us.
God is a PERFECT PARENT. His Love knows no bounds. He is perfectly patient, He is infinitely strong, He is perfectly graciously giving, and He is ONLY GOOD. And yet – so many times – I fail to trust in God…
I have only very recently become acquainted with the Devotion of the Divine Mercy as communicated by Christ Himself to the mystic Saint Faustina Kowalska in the early 20th century. I have been reflecting on that image of the Divine Mercy that Saint Faustina had commissioned for painting at the request of Our Blessed Lord. The image shows Christ standing in front of the darkness. From His sacred wounds issues LIGHT, which conquers the darkness. Beneath the image is inscribed the words, “Jesus, I trust in You”.
Great Grace is promised us through the mercy of Christ if we venerate the Divine Mercy of Christ and contemplate His Sacred Wounds, which were offered up for us – to conquer the darkness of our sin.
That light from the wounds of Christ is what our Eternal Father wishes to SHARE with us.
It is more than a Rugby Team, it is more than a soccer game, it is more than the love of reading or the pleasure found in a great homecooked meal. It is MERCY – UNFATHOMABLE DIVINE MERCY!
And Christ waits for us to receive it from Him… “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
“Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
“Eternal Father, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.”
I submit myself to You. Please my Lord, share with me what You will!
“Jesus I trust in You”…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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