Jesus, lover of my soul.
(c)Mary TV/ Anthony Zubac 2018 April 11, 2019(St. Stanislaus) Dear Family of Mary! “My Son saw beauty in all things. He seeks the good in all souls-even that which is little and hidden-so as to forgive evil…” (April 2, 2019) When I was a child there was a certain feeling amongst the laity that Jesus was the Divine Judge who was looking for even the slightest impurity in our souls in order to punish us. I remember being afraid of Jesus and His Father. Afraid of being judged and found wanting! It is very healing to hear Our Lady say that Jesus sees beauty in all things and seeks the good in all souls. In other words, Jesus is much more interested in looking for the beautiful and the good than He is in looking for our sins and failings. Jesus loves us! He loves the way we have been created, the gifts we have been given, and the good that we try to do. He looks for all those things in us, patiently and with such great love. Finding even the smallest good in our soul gives Jesus the opportunity to forgive the evil we have done. That little and hidden goodness, a merciful deed to a stranger, a kindness to a child, a forgiveness of a small debt, a deep yearning for God that is as yet unspoken…Jesus looks for these things. He can meet us there in those small or hidden acts and introduce Himself to us. He can make a connection with us there which could change the trajectory of our lives. He looks very hard for just those things because His hope is so strong. His love is so deep for each one of us. As I prayed about this message, the words, “Jesus, lover of my soul” kept coming into my mind. I looked on the internet and found that Charles Wesley wrote a hymn by that name. It is a hymn in which Wesley recognized that Jesus was his only hope, and that Jesus loved him in spite of every sin. It shows a trust in the mercy of Jesus that is based on the fact that Jesus loves us even when we are in sin, and finds the way to save us, through the call of our soul to Him. I think it might be helpful for us as we ponder this message from Our Lady. She is trying to get us to have unfailing faith in her Son who loves us and looks for the good in us continually: “Jesus, lover of my soul” By Charles Wesley Jesus, lover of my soul,Let me to Thy bosom fly,While the nearer waters roll,While the tempest still is high!Hide me, O my Savior, hide,Till the storm of life be past;Safe into the haven guide,Oh, receive my soul at last! Other refuge have I none,Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;Leave, ah! leave me not alone,Still support and comfort me!All my trust on Thee is stayed,All my help from Thee I bring;Cover my defenseless headWith the shadow of Thy wing. Wilt Thou not regard my call?Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall- Lo! on Thee I cast my care:Reach me out Thy gracious hand!While I of Thy strength receive,Hoping against hope I stand,Dying, and, behold, I live! Thou, O Christ, art all I want;More than all in Thee I find:Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,Heal the sick, and lead the blind.Just and holy is Thy name;I am all unrighteousness:False and full of sin I am;Thou art full of truth and grace. Plenteous grace with Thee is found,Grace to cover all my sin;Let the healing streams abound,Make and keep me pure within.Thou of life the fountain artFreely let me take of Thee:Spring Thou up within my heart,Rise to all eternity! As we approach Holy Week, I think Our Lady wants us to be very aware of our hearts. All our prayer should come from our hearts as we live the Passion of our Savior. There is something wonderful prepared for us during this holy time. In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!Cathy Nolan©Mary TV 2019