Divine Appeal Reflection - 88
Today, consider in Divine Appeal 88: "My appeal is addressed to all those living in the world: the good, sinners and those consecrated to Me. To those who obey and to those in authority I say: ‘I AM LOVE AND MERCY."
This message is a very strong appeal confirming that Our Adorable Jesus is merciful to all. He invites us to love Him, to accept His mercy in the sacraments, to be His faithful friends. This love and mercy of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament urges us to reject evil and abandon worldliness. According to Matthew 6:19–20, we should store up our wealth in heaven rather than on earth. To put it another way, we need to keep our attention on spiritual things and fight the urge to let material belongings divert us. According to St. Paul, who highlights the necessity of spiritual transformation and renewal (Romans 12:2), living a life of conversion entails continuously shifting our hearts from wickedness to God.
Sacraments are the dominant means of grace in enhancing our spiritual life. Confession of sins and frequenting of the Holy Eucharist are among the important practices which an individual needs to adopt to be holy. Jesus advises us to go to the Holy Mass as much as we can and possibly daily. In the Gospel of John, He assures us that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood remain in Him, and He in them (John 6:56). The Eucharistic meal serves to feed our souls, make us a part of Christ in a sacramental sense, and empower us for the work of the salvation of souls. Weekly confession is one aspect of the holy life. The sacrament of reconciliation pardons sins and brings us back into God's compassion. St. John (1 John 1:9) asserts that God is faithful and just in forgiving us of our transgressions and purifying us of all wickedness. Additionally, confession makes sure that people never forget their wrongdoings and continuously motivates them to do good and avoid evil.
There’s no alternative to daily prayer for those longing to be genuinely holy. Jesus was the best example who felt the need to pray and could be found looking for lonely places to pray. He instructs us to pray in secret, ensuring that our relationship with God remains personal and profound (Matthew 6:6). Prayer and fasting strengthen one’s faith in Him, God; it ensures that one’s will is conforming to God’s will and also equips one’s soul to face the daily challenges. One of the most effective actions to follow in order to be holy is to live every day as if it is our last – as a holy human being should be. In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus warns us to be prepared, for we do not know the day or the hour of His return (Matthew 25:1-13). This mentality helps us to live with the mind of urgency and purpose with passion always kept in readiness to meet the Lord. It creates a sense of spiritual warfare and encourages us to live a Christian life as per the will of God.
Sr. Anna Ali’s dealings with Jesus serve to emphasize the value of taking the sacraments often and having an earnest Christian life. Her example shows us the importance of being mindful of the Lord’s presence in our lives and how we should fully submit our lives to His will. Her testimony resets the stage for our understanding that a life of radical sanctity can be lived and is profoundly satisfying when lived in love and the mercy of Christ. We should follow the example of Sr. Anna Ali and her undying love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In doing so, we subject ourselves to the open and endless grace and mercy of Jesus, and we are guided along the path of true conversion and sanctity.
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