“Today consider My Sorrowful Passion in all its immensity. Consider it as if it had been undertaken for your sake alone.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 1761
“It is precisely in this that God proves his love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Now that we have been justified by his blood, it is all the more certain that we shall be saved by him from God’s wrath.” Romans 5:8-9
Jesus has triumphantly entered the city. The cheering throngs have gone home. After filling the streets with Hosanna’s, the world has now moved on and forgotten Him.
Jesus is left with just hours remaining to be with His friends, to teach His disciples. He will complete the ‘master level’ class of the past three years as He completes His surrender to the Merciful Father’s Divine Will.
In this week leading up to the Passion, Jesus likewise rushes to teach us. We have so much to learn and so little time. I know how much focusing upon the Passion and death of our Lord during this week moves me.
Everyday teaches me something. Even if the events of the day with Jesus only leaves me in tears and feeling broken hearted.
Pondering upon the passion of Jesus always brings much grace to our lives. The Passion is the portal to His Divine Mercy. But, somehow, reading the passion narratives of the Gospels and praying the Sorrowful Mysteries during this week always carries more weight than any other time of the year.
This isn’t a time to downplay what Jesus is going through in the days prior to His arrest and scourging. This is a time to focus our hearts and souls upon all the brutality and viciousness of the Passion and crucifixion. This is a time to look upon the bloody face and body of our Lord. For me, this has double effect – it humbles me more than anything else in my life and draws me ever more deeply in His Divine Mercy.
I ponder, “Jesus must love me a lot to do this for me.” As I pray this morning, Jesus answers within my heart, “I do.”
Spend time every day, but especially in the next days of this week, pondering upon the passion and death of Jesus. In that meditation, keep in mind His sole reason for suffering every ounce of His Passion. YOU.
“Jesus told me that I please Him best by meditating on His sorrowful Passion, and by such meditation, much light falls upon my soul. He who wants to learn true humility should reflect upon the Passion of Jesus. When I meditate upon the Passion of Jesus, I get a clear understanding of many things I could not comprehend before. I want to resemble You, O Jesus, — You crucified, tortured and humiliated. Jesus, imprint upon my heart and soul Your own humility. I love You, Jesus, to the point of madness, You who were crushed with suffering as described by the prophet [cf. Isaiah 53:2 9], as if he could not see the human form in You because of Your great suffering. It is in this condition, Jesus, that I love You to the point of madness. O eternal and infinite God, what has love done to You?” Divine Mercy in my soul # 267