“My past no longer concerns me. It belongs to Divine mercy. My future does not yet concern me. It belongs to Divine providence. What concerns me and what challenges me is today, which belongs to God’s grace and to the devotion of my heart and my good will” (St. Francis de Sales).
If we take these words of St. Francis de Sales to heart, we will be able to get rid of many burdens that weigh down our lives and awaken to the “now”, so to speak.
It is indeed wise advice, and it is certainly what the Father wants us to do. He wants to free us so that we can fulfill what He is calling us to do here and now.
If our past is burdened with sins, but we have sincerely placed them under God’s mercy, then our Father has already forgiven us and now wants us to praise and be assured of His infinite mercy.
In the same way, we should not burden our future with worries, fears, and illusions of all kinds. In reality, we do not know what the future holds for us. But God does, and trusting Him, we can simply go our way from day to day. Jesus Himself teaches us: “Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day” (Mt 6:34).
Finally, the “now” has been entrusted to us and we must face it with God’s grace. Our Father gives us the light and the strength to do so. If we live this day in His light, we will be strengthened for tomorrow. We must abide by this recommendation of our saint, for “this is the day that the Lord has made”. It belongs to Him and we cooperate with the surrender of our good will. In this way we will be able to face “today”!