Someone shared with me the story of pilgrims visiting a church and asked by their guide as to why the interior had holes in the wall. They said that holes are for acoustic purposes. But someone said that there are holes because the church is a holy place.
That view makes sense in a way that even a very good and holy person has “holes” meaning sins and mistakes, defects and imperfections. There is goodness in the worst of you and me as there’s badness in the best of you and me. It’s a fact that the more we change our ways for the better, the stronger the temptation to sway us away from good to do evil.
How wisely said that God calls us not only to be good but to be holy. One can be good but not necessarily holy, but a holy person must be good. Each of us is called to holiness despite the “holes” (sins) in our souls, despite our turning away from God, despite our ingratitude because he will never give up on us even if give up on him.
 We all commit mistakes for no one is perfect and in our imperfection, we can rise up and be the best that we can be. Ask those who are successful in life and they will tell you that they have experienced setbacks and failures. The grace of God makes us realize our sinfulness and drives us to conversion. St. Augustine had a bad past but did a complete turn-around to holiness. With trust in God’s mercy, we can patch up the “holes” (hurts) in our hearts with forgiveness.
“When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold Kushner is a best seller book title that has a troubling question echoing down in time as to why do bad things happen to good people? Today’s Gospel reading from St. Luke 13; 1-9, the Third Sunday of Lent Year C about the eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them, and whether they were more guilty than everyone else in Jerusalem, does not offer a clear answer, but suggests our need of repentance to establish a good relationship with God. Even good people suffer and the pious commit wrong. From anger to calmness, hatred to forgiveness, pride to humility, sinner to saint is a journey we all must walk during this period of Lent.
On the flip side, someone said that miracles happen when you replace tears by Prayer and anxiety with Faith. A mistake that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant. With gratitude, you can turn ordinary into Extraordinary. Remember that gratitude affects attitude. Good intentions always encounter opposition from bad thoughts. You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream. Upon waking up, let your thought be, thank you, Lord. Amen on that folks!!
St. Faustina wrote Jesus’ words: “ I’m always in your heart not only when you receive Me in Holy Communion, but always.”( Diary 575).
Pray the Divine Mercy every 3 p.m. Daily recite the Chaplet of Mercy and the Holy Rosary for peace in our families and in the world.
Come to our Healing Mass at 6 p.m. every Wednesday in Barrigada, with the anointing of the blessed oil of San Roque and veneration of his sacred relic.
The Divine Mercy Apostolate prayer team is thankful to Francis and Jeanette Tydingco and family for the presentation of the Divine Mercy and veneration of the sacred relic of St. Faustina in their home in Barrigada last Sunday afternoon, March 16, 2019. May the Lord bless you. Call Fr. Joel at 483-9464 for Divine Mercy prayer in your house. Thank you.
