“O Eternal Love, You command Your Sacred Image to be painted. And reveal to us the inconceivable fount of mercy, You bless whoever approaches Your rays, And a soul all black will turn into snow.” Divine Mercy in My Soul #1
I’ve heard people complain of St. Faustina’s writings on Divine Mercy, that it is too simple. That a sinful soul needs to do too little to ‘get out of jail free.’ Divine Mercy Sunday! No way! It is too much that a dark stained soul, filled with the scars of sin could be made perfect again, simply by approaching God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, this soul shouldn’t even think of coming to receive the Eucharist!
It is very Jansenist thinking that God would make His Mercy and live difficult to receive. A soul must work to become clean enough to even be able to approach His Mercy.
Simplicity is precisely how God’s Divine Mercy works. A soul basically needs just one thing to open the floodgates of mercy, pouring all the ocean of God’s mercy upon it. Trust.
A soul approaches God’s Mercy Seat only if he can trust he won’t be struck down. The start of a contrite heart is trust.
A soul will only bare his wretchedness to the Holy Holy Holy God is he trusts this Holy Holy Holy God will listen and understand. The contrite soul trusts he will be heard and not immediately judged.
A soul bends his knee in the confessional with trust that the God before him won’t strike him down for the sin confessed. Trust is the seed of mercy.
Trust allows the soul to raise his eyes in humble joy at the words of absolution.
Trust allows the soul to know though he entered the confessional a sinner, he leaves a ready saint. Trust allows this soul to know the promise of God’s Mercy, even the extravagant promise of Divine Mercy Sunday are made real in him.
God isn’t difficult. He isn’t hard to approach. It is only our lack of trust embers from Adam and Eve that keeps the soul from simply falling into the arms of Mercy.
“What will He do if He knew my sin – that sin?” – He knew from the beginning of time, and from the cross.
“What will He say when I confess the depths of my sin?” – “I love you!”
“How can He not strike me down for all these sins?” – “God is LOVE!” 1 John 4:8
“How can I ever look at Him after what I’ve done?” – He will lift you into His arms and the love of His eyes will draw you home.
It is on the first pages of the Bible. In the last words of Scripture. All over St. Faustina’s diary and the words of the saints through the Church. Every word of our Lord and His Blessed Mother say the same thing. “Trust in Jesus” and ALL will be made new.
Yes, Divine Mercy is ‘too’ simple. As immense and unfathomable as God is, in this one thing He is beyond simplicity and clarity. He makes His Mercy so easy to grasp and take hold of.
It is simple – trust. Just trust. Trust that when you fall to your knees in sorrow, He forgive – period. Trust, in your scarlet wretchedness, He will make you white as snows again – with the ‘snap’ of a finger. Trust that no matter how bad or how many times you’ve sinned, He will lift you to your feet and welcome you home, again.
‘May praise and glory for this Image
Never cease to stream from man’s soul.
May praise of God’s mercy pour from every heart, Now, and at every hour, and forever and ever.” Divine Mercy in My Soul #1