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Don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.                Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.                Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!                Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?                If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?                Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.                But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?                Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.                For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.                But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.               
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He Forgave Me Much
   

A testimony
Love One Another! 4/2004 → Divine mercy

Love One Another



Once at church I heard a sermon on morning and evening prayer. What I took from it was that when it came to prayer I could no longer plead lack of time or ignorance, since I was always able to say the words, Jesus, I trust in You!

 

Flowing from the depths of one’s heart, this prayer was as worthy of being heard as any. The priest’s words struck home. Jesus, I trust in You! Those were the words at the bottom of the image of Divine Mercy in the side aisle of our parish church. They brought to mind the singing I used to hear before the Divine Mercy image when I was a girl. The old women would chant those words – Jesus, I trust in You! – in every tone imaginable. Often I found this tiresome and laughable. But God was patient and persistent.
He entered my heart about three years ago, when a picture of the Divine Mercy came into my possession. Printed on the back of it were instructions for saying the chaplet. I understood this as God’s invitation to me to pray. At about the same time, I began listening to a Catholic radio program. One day I happened on the recitation of Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which the radio aired every afternoon at three o’clock. I pulled out the picture and prayed along. And so, after having made fun of “pattered prayer” for years, I began to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with reverence and a willing heart. I would entrust to God’s mercy everything the day would bring me. Often my hands were busy, as I would be preparing dinner for the family; but my heart and lips were always free.
Yet, despite my prayers, there came a time when I lost hope and strayed from the straight and narrow. I abused the post I had held at work for many years. I took something that did not belong to me. True, I fully intended to return it as soon as possible, but an audit was called before I could do so, and I was caught without an explanation. I faced the prospect of criminal charges and dismissal from a job that assured my family of its livelihood. In a state of near collapse, on returning home from the office, I glanced at the image of the Merciful Jesus. I began to pray in earnest.
The inquiry into my work lasted nearly a month. I was exhausted and felt great shame over my act of dishonesty. I began to see my deed in its true light. I experienced much anguish and shed many tears. I knew now that I had acted wrongly; I hadn’t imagined it was that bad. How I survived that month, I do not know, but I believe Jesus saw me through it, for I sincerely regretted my action. Full of trust in the Mercy of God, I prayed daily for a favorable resolution to my situation.
My legs trembled as I entered the manager’s office on the last day of the inquiry. The room was filled with colleagues and fellow-workers. They had to decide what to do with me. All I could tell them was that I deeply regretted my action, that I was aware of the trust I had abused, that I was sorry, and that I would like to earn their trust over again. And would you believe it: my prayers were answered! I still hold my job. They imposed a light penalty. I was merely fined.
I believe God spoke to my superiors and fellow-workers. He forgave me much. For my part, I continue to pray with gratitude before the image of the Divine Mercy. Now I know that grace comes first, before something bad happens. In my case, grace was coming to know this prayer and persevering in it.
 

Elizabeth

 
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The above article was published with permission from Miłujcie się! in November 2010


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