The Signs of the Times
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain—and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot—and so it is.
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12 54-56)
In St. Faustina Kowalska's Diary we have Jesus saying “BEFORE THE DAY OF JUSTICE, I AM SENDING THE DAY OF MERCY.” (Diary, #1588). It is universally accepted that we are currently living in this "Day of Mercy." Many people have surmised that this period of mercy has likely consisted of the decades spanning from the end of World War II to the present time in which we are living.
For his part, in March 2014 Pope Francis shared his belief that we are living during the "Time of Mercy" spoken of by St. Faustina, and he dates the beginning of this period to around the time of St. John Paul II's consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1984:
“I am sure of this. It is not only Lent; we have been living in a time of mercy for the past thirty years or more, up to today.” -Pope Francis, Exhortation on Mercy to Roman Priests, March 6, 2014.
For it was the 1984 Papal consecration, made in union with the bishops of the world, whose fruits of which is widely recognized by Church to have led to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, ushering in a significant downturn in Communism, and a period of relative peace in the world.
The end of the "Year of Mercy"
In just a few short weeks of this writing, the Church will be concluding the present "Year of Mercy" instituted by Pope Francis, spanning from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016. With the passing of this "Year of Mercy" soon upon us, is it possible that we (humanity) may be entering upon the prophesied "Time of Justice"?
Quite a few people have observed that with the passing of recent months it seems that a certain darkness is ever increasing upon the earth. Perhaps some would surmise that such feelings simply come from the vitriolic atmosphere of the current US presidential elections, along with the war in Syria and Iraq, the heightened tensions between the USA and Russia, China's increased military presence in the South China sea, along with the conflict in Yemen, to name just a few of the troubling current global events.
For those who keep watch and reflect upon the various current purported prophets and visionaries of our time, the "sensus fidelum" seems to be that we are on the verge of significant worldwide events which, on a spiritual level, will be for the purification of humanity, for we know from the Scriptures that it is often through calamities and suffering that God draws His children back to Himself.
It is often remarked how while history does not always repeat itself, at least it always rhymes, and reading through the Old Testament we see how God would send (or permit) great catastrophes to befall his chosen people the Israelite's, to draw them back to Himself after they had strayed. And just prior to this God would always send prophets to warn them and call them back. Historically, the Israelite's would always ignore the warnings of the prophets, that being their own "Time of Mercy", and then inevitably would come their "Time of Justice." Such is the recurring theme of the Old Testament.
Remember that God has a plan, and all that happens is for our reclamation and salvationThus reflecting upon God's numerous interventions in the Scriptures, one point becomes very clear--though God may cause (or allow) humanity to suffer various calamities, it is ALWAYS for our reclamation and salvation. So whatever, if anything, may soon befall us in the times to come, we should not lose hope, for even in His justice God is always infinitely merciful and loving. For He is mercy and love Itself.
I once read where a person stated "...a time will come where God's mercy will end, and His justice will then prevail." The truth is, God's mercy will never end, because He is mercy Itself. But He is also just, and He loves His children with an infinite love, so when we collectively stray through abandoning God, worshiping false idols, and falling into numerous sins, there eventually comes a point which obligates Him to withdraw His protective hand, and allow us to experience the effects and consequences of our sins and our abandonment of Him, that He might, once again, reclaim us and call us to return to Himself. For in another part of St Faustina's diary Jesus tells us: “He who refuses to pass through the door of My Mercy must pass through the door of My Justice.” (Diary 1146)
The year 2017 marks the 100 year anniversary of Fatima, and the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant reformation.
But are we really on the verge of a purification consisting of very grave worldwide events? God alone knows. But as the headline above states, the year 2017 marks the anniversaries of two very significant events in Christian history--the 100 year anniversary of Fatima, and the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant reformation. Time will very soon tell what is in store for us. Meantime, on November 8 the USA will be electing a new leader, and the "Year of Mercy" instituted by Pope Francis will be culminating on November 20th. And the people of the Kingdom here below watch, wait and pray.
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"Today I am sending you [Sr. Faustina] with My mercy to the people of the whole world. I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My merciful Heart. I use punishment when they themselves force me to do so; My hand is reluctant to take hold of the sword of justice. Before the Day of Justice, I am sending the Day of Mercy."
"I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of sinners. But woe to them if they do not recognize this time of My visitation" (Diary of St Faustina Kowalska, 1588 and 1160).