It is from the face of God that joy flows out upon all [in heaven].
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2017 Jesus, we long to see your face…. J.M.J. March 21, 2017 Dear Family of Mary! “Dear children! My motherly desire is for your hearts to be filled with peace, and for your souls to be pure so that in the presence of my Son you could see His face…” (March 18, 2017) I want to share a couple of passages from St. Faustina’s diary about seeing Jesus’ face. And then one email from our shipmate, Penny, who had an experience of seeing Jesus’ face in Medjugorje! St. Faustina had a very intimate relationship with Jesus. He would often show her His face. Here is one example, that happened during Lent: This morning I heard these words: From today until the [celebration of the] Resurrection, you will not feel My presence, but your soul will be filled with great longing. And immediately a great longing filled my soul; I felt a separation from my beloved Jesus, and when the moment for Holy Communion came, I saw the suffering Face of Jesus in every Host [contained] in the chalice. From that moment, I felt a more intense yearning in my heart. (Diary, 413) Imagine how St. Faustina must have felt at seeing Jesus’ face on each host. Truly He is present in the Eucharist. Here is another moment, during Holy Week: Holy Hour. -Thursday. During this hour of prayer, Jesus allowed me to enter the Cenacle, and I was a witness to what happened there. However, I was most deeply moved when, before the Consecration, Jesus raised His eyes to heaven and entered into a mysterious conversation with His Father. It is only in eternity that we shall really understand that moment. His eyes were like two flames; His face was radiant, white as snow; His whole personage full of majesty, His soul full of longing. At the moment of Consecration, love rested satiated-the sacrifice fully consummated. Now only the external ceremony of death will be carried out-external destruction; the essence [of it] is in the Cenacle. Never in my whole life had I understood this mystery so profoundly as during that hour of adoration. Oh, how ardently I desire that the whole world would come to know this unfathomable mystery. (Dairy, 684) And finally a glimpse of heaven, and how the Face of God is experienced there: February 10, 1938. During meditation, the Lord gave me knowledge of the joy of heaven and of the saints on our arrival there; they love God as the sole object of their love, but they also have a tender and heartfelt love for us. It is from the face of God that this joy flows out upon all, because we see Him face to face. His face is so sweet that the soul falls anew into ecstasy. (Diary, 1592) “It is from the face of God that this joy flows out upon all, because we see Him face to face!!! His face is so sweet that the souls falls anew into ecstasy.” WOW!!! Now for Penny’s amazing experience in Medjugorje. Just saw your reflection, Cathy, and I hear Denis talking about seeing the face of Jesus every day. First of all, Denis, I totally love your enthusiasm ++! Wanted to share that when I was first in Medjugorje in 1997, I was sitting on the balcony at Matia’s home (near Apparition Hill) with friend Phyllis. It was a very cloudy day and we were just sitting there at peace…when from left to right, the face of Jesus came past us in the clouds. We didn’t say anything to each other and continued to sit there…until His face came along again from left to right in the clouds. (it was windy and the clouds were blowing from left to right). At that point I asked her if she’d seen what I’d seen — literally — “did you see what I saw?” Yes, she said she had. I don’t think we ever described what we’d seen to one another, we just knew. I think about this each time Denis mentions seeing the face of Jesus. I also think that we CAN see the face of Jesus in one another. That’s more difficult for me and makes me think about loving unconditionally. Penny What a blessing for Penny! And, yes Penny, you are right. We can see the face of Jesus in one another, if we have His heart. Somehow His image and likeness show through, when we are loving Him in each other! Well, let’s keep longing to see Jesus’ face. It is Our Lady’s wish for us! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2017