Jesus, mercy!…July 24, 2026
Adoration during a retreat...
I am looking at the cross near the altar here upon which is Christ, dead on the cross . But what comes to mind is the image of Jesus on the cross behind the altar of my own parish. It is of Jesus, but Who is yet not dead: it is of Jesus, still alive on the cross, twisted in agony; His head turned over the right shoulder, His eyes open but filled with sorrow and anguish, His side not yet pierced with the Lance ...
What comes to mind now is heart-wrenching: Jesus alive, twisted in agony his eyes sorrowful, imploring, full of mercy and love: Mercy Lord! Mercy Lord! Lord have mercy!!
I am beneath that cross now, in my mind and in my heart… He reaches down and touches me. He holds me. He says he loves me! I realize that He was saying those same words every time that I was pounding those nails deeper into his hands with my own sins. Oh my lord - What love is that, that you say that you love me, in unison with the pounding of my hammer against those nails of your passion? What love is that, that your body, while writhing in agony, was given freely into this agony in order to shower myself in Your Mercy and Love? What love is this, that You ask me now to partake of Your body, that I helped to break upon the cross, in order that I may have life? What love is this?? I cannot do or say anything at this point, except say: thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus...Oh Mercy, Oh Love, that stayed on the cross for me...
Transform me, Jesus, into Your image. Transform my life into yours. Let Your will be my will, Your hands my hands, Your feet my feet, Your smile my smile and let Your love be my love.
I kiss Your pierced and sacred feet, which walked through the dust and dirt of my soul to save me. I kiss Your pierced and sacred hands which reached to the gutters of my life to lift me up to Your face, to breathe upon me the breath of new life. I kiss your Sacred and pierced Heart to give it the poor love that I have, in order to thank You for becoming one of us, for me; I kiss Your sacred crown of thorns and press them close into my heart, in order to alleviate some of that pain that I have caused You and to keep the memory of Your passion alive within my own heart.
Jesus, I love You. Jesus, I trust in You. Jesus, Your will be done. Please...