Divine Appeal Reflection - 232
Today, consider in Divine Appeal 232: "I want humanity."
Our Adorable Jesus' voice echoes through time, inviting souls to deeper faith and holiness. However, how frequently does the human heart reject, clinging to self-sufficiency and transient pleasures? The battle is not new—history is braided with the hesitations of those who, like the Israelites in the desert, saw His works yet lacked faith (cf. Psalm 95:8-9). St. Augustine reminds us that the greatest obstacle to God’s love is not His distance but our own reluctance to surrender. The call is clear: the Lord does not seek partial devotion but a heart willing to be transformed. To delay answering Him is to risk growing indifferent, settling for a faith that neither deepens nor bears fruit (cf. Revelation 3:16).
In an age where people feel unseen and unloved, His message remains the same: "I want humanity." The world offers many illusions of belonging, yet loneliness persists, even in crowds. Some seek recognition in digital spaces, others in achievements, yet the deepest hunger remains unmet. The saints understood this longing well. St. Francis de Sales, observing the restless nature of the soul, noted that no amount of human approval can replace the divine gaze that sees and loves unconditionally. Like the woman who reached for Christ’s garment in silent desperation, hearts today cry out to be truly known (cf. Mark 5:25-34). To each, Christ offers not mere acknowledgment but a transforming embrace, calling them into His very life.
He desires each soul as it is but refuses to leave it unchanged. Divine love does not merely comfort; it refines, much like gold purified in fire (cf. Malachi 3:3). St. Catherine of Siena, whose words sparked countless souls, realized that God's call is not to remain as we are, but to be devoured by and recreated in His love. The fear of loss, sacrifice, and stepping away from the familiar often creates resistance to this transformation. Yet, as the saints have shown, a soul that surrenders to Christ does not lose itself but is instead fulfilled—finding true life in the radiance of His light (cf. Matthew 16:25).
If a soul yields to this divine appeal, it will bear fruit and radiate His light in a world clouded by doubt (cf. John 15:5). Christ’s call is not a mere invitation to personal holiness but a commission to be His presence to others. St. Bernard of Clairvaux described the soul filled with divine love as a fountain that overflows naturally rather than through force. The world today longs for such souls—souls who, having been transformed, provide healing where there is divide, kindness where there is judgment, and hope where there is hopelessness. To respond to Christ’s longing is not only to be gathered into His love but to become a vessel of it, carrying His presence into the world.
Prayer
Our Adorable Jesus, You seek us even when we resist, calling us beyond what is comfortable into the fire of Your love. May our hearts not grow hardened, nor our spirits hesitant before Your grace. Form us into souls that reflect Your light, and in Your love, may we become instruments of Your divine will.
Sr. Anna Ali of the Most Holy Eucharist, intercede for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment