A VERY SPECIAL HOLY WEEK (EMBRACED BY GOD)

HOLY WEEK is a very special and spiritual time of the year. But this year was very different for me. Usually, I fast or abstain for days or I visit many churches during the Lenten season. Since I had to work from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday, I didn't have the time to do something worthwhile for Jesus, plus the fact that I felt so unworthy of God's love. Like a reject or invalid, I didn't deserve God's forgiveness and graces because I have been living in mortal sin (I'm not married in church) and my life is such a mess, it's pathetic. Thankfully, Christ does not give up that easily. His fountain of mercy is overflowing and His grace is enough for every sinner in this world.


On Black Saturday, April 3rd 2010, my hubby and I went to church after work (around midnight) to visit the Lord. We entered the church carefully because the lights were off, only burning candles illuminated the place. In spite of the darkness, I looked on at the altar to pray and ask for God's mercy. When suddenly, my heart skipped a beat for I am overwhelmed by some force, a feeling of happiness and love engulfed my heart and soul. The Lord has embraced me in His loving arms and I have never felt so much joy in my life. I broke down in tears and kept sobbing for what seemed like a long time. I couldn't fathom how merciful and loving God is to such a wounded and broken soul. It was like having a taste of Heaven on Earth and I was moved. There were no words spoken from above, no ray of light shone down on me. But God smiled at me that day, and His message was that of thanks for my little efforts in leading souls to Him and praying for the living and the suffering in Purgatory. Truly prayer and sacrifice are most pleasing to God. Despite my shortcomings and offenses, Jesus loves me and comforts me. Because I have loved much and I have cared for others in my own way.


God is so good and generous, all He does is give us blessings and miracles. It is just sad how we waste it all away because we are too preoccupied with ourselves and our worldly concerns. We are so busy with too many things that ironically we do not have time to pause and reflect and appreciate what God has to offer. We do not find the time to share our blessings with the poor and the needy. We do not pray and ask God for help or even thank Him for what we have. It is the paradox of modern living. People today are so busy and yet they are bored. There are so many things to do that all of them seem pointless. This proves that the modern messages of Jesus and Mary to us ring true, it is only in God's arms that we will find peace of mind and purpose. This is what the Blessed Mother has to say...


Nothing is gained through worldliness except heartache, loneliness, and coldness toward each other. So many suffer today because the hearts of those close to them are cold. You are placed with your family members to love them and help them in their journey to Christ. Do not turn your back on those you are destined to love. If you turn to Jesus, He will place such love in your heart that it will spill over onto all you meet.  (Wednesday June 25, 2003)


In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we lose our identities. After achieving our goals and becoming successful in our chosen field, still we are unhappy, unsatiated. In the prime of our lives, we are disappointed, because we have been deceived by the world. We have focused on power and riches to satisfy our need to be accepted in society, to be happy. In the end, we realize how much time we've wasted. All that time and energy spent on the shallowest of things, never taking the time to share those blessings with our needy neighbors. A shower of graces selfishly gained while others suffer in the background waiting for comfort and love. It is truly everyone's loss  not to understand the mystery of Christ's Passion. The Lord's suffering and sacrifice, if given focus and importance, can serve as inspiration and a valuable lesson to anyone who is willing to take up His cross. Unless we fast and abstain, we will never know how it feels like to be poor. Unless we feel physical pain, we will never know how it feels to be dying. Unless we get our hearts broken, we will never know how it feels to be abandoned. Unless we feel sympathy for our poor and suffering neighbors, we will never give them our time and attention, we will never know how Jesus loves us. If only we take the time to know Jesus and what He has done for all of us, surely this world would become a better place to live in. If we stop placing our interests first and start being grateful to our Creator, and give back what He did for us. What a different world this would be.