Immersed in the Ocean of His Mercy (3 of 3)

Part III: Unpacking the Fruits of Mercy…

     In unpacking slowly this pilgrimage, the fruits received from this journey have been helping me in being transformed into a Eucharistic Ambassador of his Mercy in three ways; by being washed, by being restored and then transformed.
My washing happened through many experiences, but what sticks are the moments I prayed at the tomb of Bl. Jerzy Popielusko, or saw the robe of St John Paul II, or the clothes I gave away week after week, or the communal times of prayer, or the individual times of prayer. St Jerome tells us that ‘the ideal of mercy or compassion is a frequent theme in all the Gospels. This beatitude is illustrated by the meriless servant (Mat 18:23-35). The two works of mercy most emphasized in Mt are almsgiving and forgiveness. To be given a year of Mercy got us to reflect on what Pope Francis teaches us that ‘The scriptural text of Leviticus 5 can help us to understand the meaning of a “jubilee” for the people of Israel. Every fifty years they heard the sounding of a trumpet (jobel) calling them (jobil) to celebrate a holy year as a time of reconciliation (jobal) for everyone. During that time they had to renew their good relations with God, with their neighbours and with creation, all in a spirit of gratuitousness.’
For me throughout this year of mercy, I constantly felt like the testimonies of His Mercy in our life were so profound that in my case my actions of Mercy were superficial. I kept saying ‘Jesus, I don’t know if I am merciful.’ Although it took time for me to unpack this year’s pilgrimage, and although I am still unfolding it, I did not realize at the time that I was telling Jesus, I want more than a shower. Take me deeper, not seeing that He was doing it in tangible ways. In being washed, I was also being restored, but God who does not work in surface took me deeper in immersing me completely in this pilgrimage by renewing my relationship with Him, with others and with creation. More than ever, ours is an intentional relationship where Pope Francis says ‘As you can see, mercy does not just imply being a “good person” nor is it mere sentimentality. It is the measure of our authenticity as disciples of Jesus, and of our credibility as Christians in today’s world.’
The words of Pope Francis at Campus Misericordia played as a radio as I found myself especially in Prague being drawn to people like Jesus to Zaccheus. He did not let me just pass by the city, but allowed to welcome those who would question my stay there, and this often led to theological conversations, because 90% of people in Prague are Atheists. When it comes to my relationship with Creation, our relationship was taken to the next step. From wonder and awe to a growing compassion. Kalovy Vary and my time praying through the zoo of Prague caused an invitation I did not understand fully at the time. These days, I am learning what it means to be merciful to creation by reevaluating and reassessing the harms I cause to God’s creation. I am learning how some of our habits are damaging. And as one of the young adults who answered Pope Francis’ call to care for creation, I am also learning to see the environment through the eyes of the Holy Trinity. In my relationship with God, I was immersed. You see it is risky to be immersed in something without a life jacket. You might think of drowning, but there is nothing to fear since his Mercy doesn’t just pass over you. It permeates your whole being. I knew the girl who went was not the same who came back, because to be immersed undeniably caused transformation leading to an ongoing personal conversion. I could have been ashamed to tell Jesus ‘well, I just don’t think I know what it means to be merciful right now.’

Conclusion…
You might be in those shoes too right now where you feel that the Year of Mercy is about to end, and you have either not experienced God’s Mercy or have received the grace to forgive yourself, others or to be forgiven. Just remember like Pope Francis said that Zaccheus also experienced the paralysis of Shame, however he brought it all to the Lord; his struggles, his weaknesses and his sins. When people’s voice are louder than that of the Lord like the crowd’s grumbling was blocking the way for Zaccheus, let us remember this:
“People will try to block you, to make you think that God is distant, rigid and insensitive, good to the good, and bad to the bad. Instead, our heavenly Father “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good” Mt 5:45 He demands of us real courage; the courage to be more powerful than evil, by loving everyone even our enemies. People may laugh at you because you believe in the gentle and unassuming power of mercy. But do not be afraid. Think of the motto of these days: ‘Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy’ (Mt 5:7)” (Pope Francis Homily, WYD Final Mass Krakow)
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Immersed in the Ocean of His Mercy ( 2 of 3)

Part II: Experiencing His Mercy…

My mother has often said that a harder a pilgrimage is, the mother blessings you get. However, she hoped the Holy Trinity would be clement with me; I smiled suspecting our good Lord and Saviour would do the complete opposite, and so it was. Whether I was able to offer the Lord a little or a bit, He would take it all. I was emptied in every way spiritually, emotionally, physically, intellectually, and you name it. Our journey began in the diocese of Warsaw in the small village outside of Warsaw called Podkowa-Lesna at the parish of St Christopher. The parishioners had prepared themselves so well to welcome us only the Lord had to cause disturbances to their plans at time . Obviously I stayed in a host family and was paired with two other sisters in Christ from the same group.

Warsaw Uprising Museum

Sanctuary of JPII Entrance, Lagewniki, Krakow

The highlights of our intense missionary days there were our visit at the tomb of Blessed Jerzy Popielusko, the bike ride, my discovery of a little chapel in the museum of Warsaw where I paused and prayed, and the Sendoff mass in Warsaw. The lessons drawn from these were that you may not be going at the pace of everyone else. The pains you are experiencing and your sufferings may cause you to desire to quit, but God will get you where you ought to be in the fullness of his time. The gift given to me by the Holy Spirit  to enter the stadium for the sendoff mass from Warsaw to Krakow taught me that I must not rely on what I see, but trust that God will make a Way where there seem to be no way. These I’ve come to call the parables of my pilgrimage.
Then, our team headed to Krakow. The pilgrimage spirit was beyond intense, so much so that I was no longer waiting to find myself in churches to offer the prayer requests entrusted to me. It became an ongoing exercise during our daily walks over kms that ruined one of the two pairs of shoes I brought. From intense catecheses to the discovery of the many saints and blessed Poland gave the church such as St John Cantius, Blessed Mother Sophie, and more. Praising and worshipping the Lord was a highlight just as praying as a group, on while walking in the rain with other pilgrims to Blonia field or the largest field called Campus Misericordia was enriching.
 Our steps took us to Lagewniki where was erected the sanctuary of St John Paul II, and from there, we walked to the Shrine of Divine Mercy. New and holy friendships were formed during that week, even after the week our good Lord blessed the plans I had to further stay in Krakow by successfully allowing to see the home of St John Paul II in Wadowicie, the salts mine in Wielicka and increase the lessons of patience and mercy by uniting me to the face of the suffering in the concentrations camps of Auschwitz.

Auschwitz II

  Auschwitz was indeed the peak of mercy; I gave thanks to the Lord for that privilege. Auschwitz was the peak of mercy; a friend there said every leader should be taken to Auschwitz to understand the impact of their every decision. The long awaited trip to Czestochowa during which I thank our Blessed Mother for saving my life, and entrusted myself wholly to her again took place. I was in Czestochowa for four days, and it indeed took me that time to see the whole monastery of Jasna Gora. Not only she led me there safe by leading me to the right train and sent people to bless to take the right transportation, but I was privileged through the encouragement of a Brother from the order of St Paul to kneel right at the feet of the miraculous image of our Lady. What a moment I will forever cherish!
Thank you Poland for time spent with you in growing spiritually. It will probably take the next three years to unpack all I experienced. It will probably take pages to journal more of how the Holy Trinity stripped me to pour anew within me, but until then I was excited about the last stop of this pilgrimage; Prague. I was about to stay in the land of the Infant Jesus.

(Infant Jesus) Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, O dear Prague. You nurtured me. It was so cold I had to get myself a sweater after resting for few days. Under the patronage of St Ignatius of Loyola, I was well hosted in one of the Jesuits accommodation. Miracles happened one after the other that helped tremendously with both my recovery and my stay there. God sent friendships bloomed my way. I was privileged to visit the monastery Our Lady Victorious where the Infant Jesus resides. Oh how, I knelt at his feet moved deep from within. Our good Lord when I look back was ensuring that I taste every aspect of his mercy. At my surprise, when visiting an old historical site, Vyserhad, I discovered there was a cemetery and I was blessed to pray there with the friends that accompanied me. At that moment, I thought to myself, Lord, I should include in my pilgrimages from now on a visit to the faithful departed if possible. The planned visits to local monasteries and other local sites, churches, bridges were a gift within this pilgrimage that sealed itself with time in creation by thanking God for sites such as Karlovy Vary (reputed for its mineral waters) and the Zoo of Prague, and with the opportunity to practice different types of almsgiving.
Alas, my pilgrimage ended with a special blessing from St Ignatius of Loyola who spoiled me with gifts through the organizers of the retreat House.

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Immersed in the Ocean of His Mercy (1 of 3)

Few weeks back, I was asked to share with one of the local ministries my pilgrimage journey at World Youth Day this past summer. As I reflected on how the theme ‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy’ manifested itself in my life, the image that came was that of an immersion. I wondered in prayer what the Lord meant by immersion when the understanding that was spoken to me was this: ‘You see an immersion does not leave any part of you untouched, whereas a shower flows surfaces your being. So I prayerfully asked the Holy Spirit to unpack it for me under the guidance of our Lady.
You see this fourth beatitude ‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy’ from the sermon of Jesus on the mountain can be either overwhelming for some of us or quite simplistic for others. However, in the narrative presented to us by Matthew 5:7, it could be easy for us to say ‘Oh Yes, I know about being merciful. I’ve been practicing all the corporal works of mercy during this year of mercy. I’m good. I counsel the doubtful, teach the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the sorrowful, forgive offences, patiently bear with troublesome people and pray to God for the living and the dead.’
Now what about the second part? Have we experienced what it means to obtain mercy? Have we paused to ponder on how God manifests His mercy in our life? Pope Francis tells us that the biblical concept of mercy also includes the tangible presence of love that is faithful, freely given and able to forgive (31st WYD, Pope Francis). This said, we could divide my pilgrimage in three different parts, the preparation phase, the journey and its fruits. I mean what I shared was definitively more extensive than what I am writing to you in this packed blog reflection on as we tend towards the end of this year of Mercy.

Part I: Fundraiser as preparation…
For me when I think of this past pilgrimage, it did not start when we got in the plane. No, I must say from the moment I answered the call to go, I was challenged to trust God with my finances. Yes indeed, my brain got busy with no destination to land at. Turning to the Lord in prayer, I was inspired to start an online fundraiser campaign. Mama mia! I was a bit discomforted, because I knew I was about to take on an out of comfort zone project. What will follow was the most amazing thing as I designed the online campaign, prayed over what perks I could reasonably offer including majorly copies of my book digitally and as paperback. The first few days, there were no answers, but GOD who leads never forsakes.
As I kept praying for our Lord to stir hearts towards my cause, and moves as He wills; He did what only He can. Doors began to open. I was given humble strength to persevere in knocking at doors. I was experiencing something I did not expect; others’ mercy towards my cause. Some were giving beyond my hope. Some were giving out of their little funds. You see, that journey was increasing me in virtues, because I had to practice humility in sharing my desire with others, and faith in the perks GOD was calling me to give. Some were lifting me in their prayers in ways that were simply moving. Some gave and wanted no perks at all, so I was writing every name because I knew deep down each person had something their hearts was yearning to present to the Lord.
Reflecting back in association with the words of our Holy Father Pope Francis, this was tangible love. This love was being freely given in every way possible. In the process, because my health conditions suddenly changed, I was also put in a place where I was led to practice mercy towards others by forgiving again and again in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It was a season when I surrendered both to the medical team (doctor, nurse) that were caring for me, meanwhile abandoning myself to the nurse of all nurses; our Blessed Mother (see my thanksgiving blog for more). However, our Lord who called to this trip strengthened me himself at our surprise so I could make the trip...                     Click to continue to Part 2 of 3...