Fr. Martin’s
reflection on - Our Lady’s Message
25th
March 2017
“Dear children, In this time of grace, I am calling all of you to
open your hearts to God’s mercy, to begin a new life through prayer, penance
and a decision for holiness. This time of spring moves you to a new life, to a
renewal, in your thoughts and hearts. Therefore, little children, I am with you
to help you to say ‘yes’ to God and to God’s commandments with resoluteness.
You are not alone; I am with you through the grace which the Most
High gives me for you and your descendants. Thank you for having
responded to my call.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters
of Medjugorje North East and beyond,
Jesus Christ is the
Merciful face of the Fathers Love, who calls every believer to his Merciful
heart that flows with blood and water.
From the pierced side of
Christ on the Cross we see the complete manifestation of the Father of Mercies,
it is to this Divine Mercy that Mary begins this month's message,
"Open your hearts
to God's Mercy’ From this gift of Mercy we can begin a new life of
'Prayer, Penance and a decision for holiness.
The simple but beautiful
Prayer, 'Jesus I trust in you' is the Prayer of
one who has great confidence in the Mercy of God with complete
abandonment to his will.
Mary invites us to open our
hearts to the Father of Mercies, let us do so in the Sacrament of Penance, and
the renunciations we make. it is through the Mercy of God that we begin the new
life Mary speaks of, a renewal that touches our minds and hearts.
Mary then teaches that as
we can now see the signs of Spring all around us, so she heralds a new
springtime for all who respond to her Motherly call. "I am with
you" When we really believe this and take this to heart, then we
should be no longer dominated by fear.
Even when we have worries
and difficulties, to know and feel Mary is with us, then our hearts can react
to her presence, and so overcome our fears. To believe what Mary says about her
presence with us is sure consolation.
So, let us not spread fear,
but the Peace of Mary's presence with us, for she tells us she heralds a new
Springtime for all who are attentive to her presence.
So, Our Lady Queen and
Mother of Peace, wants us to be like her at the moment
of the Annunciation.
She invites each of us to
give a heartfelt "YES" to the Lord and his commandments with
resoluteness. To say this "YES" with Mary gives us great
encouragement in our Faith.
For Mary says again,
"You are not alone"
She stands with at all the
crossroads of our life, but each day is present with us to live the Faith of
her Son. She stands with us in making this decision for God and Holiness
of life. Mary is with us as our protector, our helper, and intercessor, but
also as our example.
So when we say with her at
our side, "YES, Lord your will be done” we give the Lord the
key for our life and our holiness, and in His goodness and Mercy gives us the
grace to remain with Our Lady on the way to holiness to remain with her, and to
stand with her with the gift of a resolute Faith.
Let us not fear, because
Mary tells us this grace is for us and our descendants, the great river of
Faith in which we all follow, begun at the moment of
Annunciation. "Jesus I trust in you."
Easter Blessings, Fr.
Martin