Fr. Martin’s
reflection on - Our Lady’s Message
25th
March 2019
“ Dear children, This is a time of grace. As nature renews
itself for a new life, you also are called to conversion. Decide for God.
Little children, you are empty and do not have joy, because you do not have
God. Therefore, pray until prayer becomes your life. In nature seek God
who created you, because nature speaks and fights for life and not for
death. Wars are reigning in hearts and nations, because you do not
have peace and you do not see, little children, a brother in your
neighbour. Therefore, return to God and to prayer. Thank you for having
responded to my call. ”
Dear Brothers and sisters
of Medjugorje North East and beyond,
Our Lady's presence with us
is a grace, a great gift for these times. She is Mother of the Church and
accompanies believers in a special way at this time.
She comes to us as Our Lady Queen of Peace, sent from the Father with the
Gospel message of Conversion. Our Lady's coming to us is grace and joy,
but it is also a sign that we are in critical times. The Mother is with
us because the children are in danger, so Our Lady comes to show us the path of
Salvation, to save souls and present them to God. This is her special
plan, that is why Mary begins this month's message with the words, "This
is a time of Grace."
It is the new life of
Grace, that is her son Jesus Christ, whom Our Lady calls us to. "As
nature renews itself for a new life you also are called to conversion." We
are in the holy season of Lent, the word 'Lent' means 'springtime', a
springtime of the soul. Our Lady points to the signs in nature all around
us at this time, the signs of new life. So, it
is God's desire that we open our hearts to the new life of grace in abundance
that we may receive from him. " I have come that they may
have life and have it to the full." (John: 10:10)
Mary Mother of God is the
Mother of this new life. A Mother gives her own life for the life of
another, so Mary wants us to turn from anything that leads to death, that is
not good for us and turn towards the good. As in last month's
message Our Lady said," Give
your hearts to Jesus."
Let us reflect on the
Wedding Feast of Cana, (John 2: 1-11) There we read about the stone water jars and
how they "Were filled to the brim." We are the stone
water jars ready to be filled with the new life of God. But we can sense
the sadness in Our Lady's words when she says, "You are
empty" We must ask ourselves personally about our
abandonment and surrender to the Father who desires to fill us with his new
life. Why are so many hearts closed to the life of divine grace?
Hearts empty of faith, love and peace. When Our Lady speaks, we must
listen, and allow ourselves to be disposed to the gifts God wants to pour upon
us. But we must create the conditions for this to happen. "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and
drink, and streams of living water shall flow from their hearts."(John: 7
37-39) When we spend time with God in prayer each day,
then we will understand what Our Lady is asking from us individually.
When we say no to a spirit of worldliness and materialism, then in prayer will
we begin to comprehend the new life to which Our Lady calls us, and also our inner eyes will be opened to see that which is
going on around us.
Often Our Lady has spoken
about the 'Signs of the times', and if a farmer did not recognise the
arrival of spring then his fields would not be ready for the
harvest. "In nature seek God who created you. Because
nature speaks and fights for life and not for death."
In the Creed we make this
profession of our Faith. " I believe in
God the Father Almighty Creator of heaven and earth." God is
Almighty because he is Creator, and he created us in his image and in his
likeness.
Our Lady reminds us of the
dignity of every human person, the gift of our creation as sacred human beings,
Children of God, with the blessing of Our Creator upon us. Nature speaks
and fights for life, not death, so Mary wants us to fight for The Life of
Faith, Hope and Prayer- the life of God.
"You do not see little
children a brother in your neighbour." Our Lady asks us to look
with spiritual vision, and to see every person as a Child of God. This is
the beginning of the path of real peace, to see our neighbour as our brother.
Our true response to Our Lady has to be an equal love
for every person. Those who hate and despise others must be showered with
our love. Mary is beautiful because she loves, the visionaries have told
us, and we too must be visionaries in the living out of Christian love.
Just as the sun that the Father created shines on all people-good and bad, so
the love of his new life can shine through the people of God.
Let us ask God:
That our love for Him and
for neighbour may be a living love,
A witnessing love, that
reflects the joy and peace in a beautiful way.
A truly Blessed Holy week
and Triduum.
Fr. Martin