Christ’s everlasting Mercy on Earth
I don’t think anyone can really grasp the awesome mercy of Christ! When Jesus commission Peter in Matthew Chapter 16: 17-19, he picked an uneducated fisherman. A man who had a family and who gave up his whole way of life to follow the Messiah. Let that sink in for a bit. God, the All Powerful and ever-living God chose a simple man, a beggar in the eyes of the world, to lead the Most powerful Divine Institution. The “keys of the kingdom” were to be handed from sacred hands to sinful hands. I see this as another chance at Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed man of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”. Yes, Peter was still a sinner, just like each one of Jesus Disciples, yet, God in his infinite gift chose to bond with man by showing him how much he desires for the fulfillment of mankind to be with him.
The desire of the Holy Trinity can be seen if you focus on CCC 827 of the catechism. “The church, however, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal.” Christ knew that man was going to have issues throughout their course of existence, yet he promised Peter “The gates of hell will never prevail it”. We can hold on to those Holy words of Authority! Jesus will never let Satan and his demons destroy the church. Even with the entire world against Holy Mother Church, she will stand strong and tall until the bridegroom comes back to the earth (Rev 21:5) “And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new” The Church will continue to be a light to the world, a beacon of hope!
The Chair of Peter will continue and has continued through the centuries. From Roman persecutions, to the protestant reformation and both world wars. I believe that God gave every single person who is a member of the Catholic church Actual Grace, once they become baptized. How else can you explain how Jesus chose men and women from among the ranks to be saints and carry on his mission on earth. From the greatest of them to the poorest, our saints are proof of the universality of Christ and His Church. Some didn’t perform big miracles like raising people from the dead or feeding a large group of people. God gave each one of his chosen one’s certain gifts and graces that he wanted them to have, to increase the faith of believers. I believe the 3rd greatest miracle after Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist and rising from the dead, was the gift of the Holy Spirit to inspire these men and women to become martyrs. Who is willing to die for a lie? Who is willing to suffer and endure so much earthly and spiritual punishment, if they didn’t believe Jesus was the “Son of the living God”? The effect of Sanctifying grace is the strength of God the Holy Spirit, through the intercession of the Immaculate Conception to aid men and women to say yes to God, yes to do his will on earth, yes to pray for Francis, our Pope in Rome and the entire clergy and all our brothers and sisters in the universal church. Through the power of the Rosary and the sacraments of the Church, we, by God’s all loving mercy, will endure until the end of days.
God Bless,
Aaron JP
Lost Sheep for Christ 