“No eye has seen nor ear has heard nor mind has even conceived what God has in store for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:19)
Many of us have spent the last forty days of Lent meditating on Christ’s humiliations, meekness, and unwearied perseverance. We have followed the way of the cross to new life, and now we enter Eastertide—a season of light, life, and joy.
The Lenten season is meant to move us more deeply into conversion, and revive our spirits for the Eastertide season and the rest of our lives. We have moved through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord and now we are called to join Him on mission. Remembering all our Lord did for us out of love, we pray for the grace to trust Him more completely. We ask Him what He would have us do now—how best to know, love, and serve Him and others.
God may be calling us to a new thing so we need to pay attention. Or He may simply want us to do what we are already doing but with greater love, peace, and intentionality. Sometimes God leads us away to heal us. We wait and let God aim us.
As Christians living in 2025, we are blessed with so much material to teach, motivate, and inspire us. I’m going to share just a few things that have encouraged me as I’ve walked through another Lent and am now desiring to live in Easter joy:
- Lord, You will not leave us orphans; help us to be aware of your presence throughout the day, and let our lives proclaim our faith in you.
- “Behold, I make all things new. Be not afraid. I go before you.” —Jesus
- “Now shall thou see what I will do.” —Exodus 6:1
- Jesus consoles us, liberates us, shares His joy with us, and sends us forth for His cause.
- Jesus goes before us to enable the mission. We simply ask for the grace to follow in His footsteps—day by day.
- May God be great in you—may you be brave, wise, and free.
- The cultivation of joy is our mission for the next 50 days.
- Renewed hearts can renew the world. Live life with Easter eyes and stillness of soul.
- Commit yourself to a person, Jesus Christ, a people, and a project. Live deep!
- Will there be more faith in the world because I was here?
- What does it mean to be a faithful daughter/son?
- God enables my feet to go to the High Places. During Lent, I re-read a favorite of mine—Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. I highly recommend it!
- “Go forth and set the world on fire!” —Ignatius of Loyola
- This Eastertide may we walk in the newness of life Christ gained for us— live for Him and love like Him. Let’s pray for radical trust in Him—to live free from possessions and free from fear.
- In Mass now, we often sing a hymn entitled Sing a new song unto the Lord. May this be a beginning of a new song for each of us.
For those who would like to take a deeper dive into surrendering to the new life we are invited to live in God’s kingdom of love right now and in eternity—remembering that it is God who gives us both the desire and the power to live this way— here is a prayer from Mathew Kelly, Dynamic Catholic:
DIVINE MERCY CONSECRATION PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
True God and True Man,
Bread of Life,
The Alpha and the Omega,
Beloved Son of God and Love Incarnate,
the Divine Mercy,
I consecrate myself to You today without reservation.
I come before You today as I am,
weak, wounded, and broken,
but hopeful,
and yearning for Your mercy.
Remind me that I am a child of God,
first and foremost.
Heal the wounds of my past,
guide my feet in the present,
and protect my future with Your care and provision.
Show me what is possible when I trust in You.
Free me from the guilt, shame, regret, and insecurity
that prevent me from fully embracing Your promises.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Face of the Father’s Mercy,
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
I consecrate myself to your Divine Mercy today without reservation.
I hold nothing back.
I surrender completely and absolutely to Your goodness.
There is nothing I can do to make You love me.
There is nothing I can do to lose Your love.
All that is left is to receive graciously
that which I don’t deserve but can’t live without.
I open my heart to You in trust and surrender.
Fill my heart with Your Divine Mercy until it overflows.
Jesus, Lord of Mercy,
I stand before You today with an open heart.
Everything is on the table.
Take what You want to take,
and give what You want to give.
When Your mercy is uncomfortable, difficult, or inconvenient,
remind me that Your mercy
is always an invitation to a better life.
Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace,
I consecrate myself to You today without reservation.
Fill my life with radical love,
tender compassion,
gentle kindness,
endless gratitude,
and boundless generosity.
Send me out into the world as a Pilgrim of Mercy.
Mary, Mother of Mercy,
You stood at the foot of the Cross
as blood and water poured from your Son’s side
to bath the world in mercy.
Teach me to trust wholeheartedly
in God’s unfathomable
plans for my life
today, tomorrow, and forever!
JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!
AMEN.
Photo credit: Cathy Raney, Garvan Gardens, Hot Springs, Arkansas
2 Comments
Joan
Cherry you are most certainly a divinely inspired writer. As always, there are parts that seem to be written just for me.
This month I’m thankful that you included the Concentration Prayer at the end.
Evelyn
A good reminder of what is expected of us as child of God as well as what Jesus did for us. His sacrificial offering of himself for us. The least we can do is accept this with an open mind of our responsibilities because of that. It doesn’t take a lot of looking to find a reason to share God’s love and mercy. Opportunities are all around, we just have to open our eyes and act. God bless you Cherry as you shine a light on the path to our eternal life.