Of whom can it be said, “They do not yet know the love of the Father?”

To get ready for my pilgrimage to Poland, I was reading a book about Karakow, “City of Saints” (written in part by a parishioner, but that is another story!). It described Poland as a land where the drama of the 20th century played out. Poles sometimes say that they are the only nation to lose WW2 twice! Crushed between two totalitarian regimes, but ultimately seeking the triumph of freedom and grace.

This quote from the second Vatican Council speaks to this: “The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity.” Gaudium et Spes 37:2

And the answer from the Lord, was to speak to this age the beauty of His Merciful Love. Vilnius (now Lithuania) played a role in that it was here that the first image of Divine Mercy was painted with encouragement of St. Faustina’s spiritual director. I believe she had several versions painted, because none were able to capture sufficiently the glory of the Lord, which is not a surprise!

The truth that God is Love and Mercy Itself. He invites us to contemplate this mystery, and live in it. They do not yet know the love of the Father? Yet. Let that “yet” be the operative word, as we invite all to come home to the loving Heart of our Lord.

A blessed 4th of July to all this weekend! I will be back next Sunday!

pax,

Father John Mosimann