MARIA FAUSTINA - THE EXTENT OF GOD'S MERCY

"Let no soul, even the most miserable, fall prey to doubt; as far as one is alive, one can be a great saint" St. Maria Faustina

This particular quote of St. Maria Faustina has always comforted and encouraged me.

Today, being her Feast, I meditated deeply on the various implications of this simple verse. The first implication that brings itself to the fore is the depth of God's mercy portrayed in the beautiful verse. The mercy of God that knows no bounds. The mercy that can wipe every possible stain no matter how sticky, long and unforgiving it may seem. It points at the very nature of God, a God who longs to forgive and not to punish or condemn. This is particularly important in our relationship with God. 

    More so, another aspect that struck me is the saint's confidence and faith in God's mercy. To assume that the most miserable soul can still attain to great heights of sanctity is a very daring faith. Consider the possible depth of misery a soul can venture into, consider the prostitute, serial killers, ritualists, and so on. Now consider that the most miserable of all of them can still be not just a Saint but a great one. Then, will you begin to understand the daring nature of the quote. However, such faith, if it really flows from the heart, is nothing less than a fruit of a deep experience of God. An experience of God to the extent that one begins to feel the very pathos of God. It is not just any experience but an experience that makes one begin to think, and by implication act like God.

    I would not presume that such assertion if rightly understood would lead one to lead a life unworthy of a child of God while presuming on God's mercy. It is rather an understanding, a call and a patterning. It is an understanding of the extent of God's mercy for us. Even when we think we are not worthy of his mercy, St. Faustina assures us that God is ever willing to forgive us. It is a call to meditate deeply on the extent of God's merciful love for us even though we are most miserable because of our sins. Finally, it is meant to pattern our life to the very model of God. It is an understanding that calls us to pattern our life to the extent of extending the loving mercy and kindness which we have received from God to others.

St Maria Faustina, pray for us 

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