Daily Inspiration

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” —1 Peter 1:3-9

I once witnessed Jesus transform an ocean of sin into an ocean of His mercy. The following excerpt from my second book, Triumph of the Cross, has always reminded me of the Ocean of Mercy Saint Faustina described in her writings. Rejoice in Christ on this Divine Mercy Sunday.

“…One second, I was focused on myself treading water, and the next, I was no longer observing from above but was living the experience from within the water. I felt a small wave of spiritual pain crash over me, submerging me. Describing this spiritual pain is challenging to put into words, but it felt as though my soul was being torn apart. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs but could not. The pain submerged me, and I could hear my body on the kneeler, gasping for air…

…As the waves grew, so did the pain they carried, and each one became more unbearable than the last. The pain was agonizing, but I felt something buried deep inside the pain that rode along within the suffering. I could feel that same love that I once felt coming from the Holy Spirit, which touched me like rays of sunshine then, but now this love wasn’t just touching the outside of my soul; it was penetrating deep into the interior and structure of my spiritual being…”